Pentax RS1500
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
- Introduced March 2011
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
93 Imaging
37 Features
30 Overall
34
Pentax RS1500 summary
Pentax RS1500 is Pentax's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first announced on March of 2011. The camera comes with a 14MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4288 x 3216.
The RS1500 is scored #109 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over all #961 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should check out our Advanced camera search to get camera results based on your custom criteria.
Here is a chart of specific factors used in the rating system.
Pentax RS1500 history
The Pentax RS1500 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the complete list underneath.
F3.5-5.514MP1/2.3"2011
Pentax RS1500 Gallery
You can view the RS1500 from several angles in the gallery below.
Pentax RS1500 Pros and Cons
Here is a list of upsides and downsides of the Pentax RS1500 based on factors which are usually considered essential in a digital camera.
Pentax RS1500 Sensor features
The size of the sensor on the Pentax RS1500 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can capture 4288 x 3216 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.
Photography GlossaryThe CCD sensor has 14 megapixels and gives a standard ISO range of 80 to 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported so the user has less room to maneuver in post.
The graphic underneath shows the RS1500's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The RS1500 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Pentax RS1500 dimensions
Pentax RS1500 weighs 0.35 pounds (157 grams / 5.54 ounces) & has outside proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Pentax RS1500 is very much the same as compared with its rivals.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsHere is a picture of the Pentax RS1500 besides a softdrink to help you to get a sense of its size.
The top view underneath will provide the button design on the RS1500.
Pentax RS1500 Lens features
The RS1500 has got an inbuilt lens with a focal range of 28-110mm giving it a 3.9 x zoom which isn't really huge however it will definitely be useful in a few cases.
At it's widest 28mm, it features an aperture of f3.5 and that's somewhat sluggish and not good for low light events and you may find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You could also need to boost your ISO resulting in noisy shots. With the long end, 110mm comes with f5.5 which is fairly slow and you would have to set slower shutter speeds.
Pentax RS1500 Connectivity
The RS1500 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can send images and at times alter settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.
A few apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external display. A good number of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.
Pentax RS1500 Video features
The max video quality on the Pentax RS1500 is 1280 x 720 and you can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You should really shoot for a minimum 1080p quality for video recording. The body does not have a microphone and headphone port so you get zero control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to purchase a different model in case you want better audio for your videos.
Pentax RS1500 Weather Sealing
Pentax RS1500 has weather proofing making it a good option for use during rough conditions. This can be especially useful whenever you are not sure about the conditions you might encounter during outdoor photography.
Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder
The Pentax RS1500 comes with a 2.7 inch fixed display screen with a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Please note that the display has no touch support.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe ViewFinder details for Pentax RS1500 are the following:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be rather beneficial during sunny outdoor conditions which will make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.
Pentax RS1500 Shutter features
Pentax RS1500 can shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1500 sec.
Pentax RS1500 Flash and Hot shoe features
Pentax RS1500 features just inbuilt flash with missing external flash support.
Pentax RS1500 Autofocusing features
Pentax RS1500 features only Contrast Detect Auto Focus & is missing Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & accurate than Contrast Detect focusing.
The AF system comes with 9 focus points to select from. It also has Tracking Auto Focus for things that move. Pentax RS1500 has manual focus when needed during low light conditions or you need more precise control on focus.
Pentax RS1500 Battery life
The battery pack (D-LI92) for the Pentax RS1500 is made to last for 260 shutters according to the CIPA measurements making it on par with it's competition. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life within this range of cameras.
Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras having the best battery life:
Pentax RS1500 for varying categories of photography
The following diagram presents a summary of the Pentax RS1500 for varying categories of photography. To see more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
The Pentax RS1500 receives a points tally of 35 which is dreadful, meaning that it is simply not suitable for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW photos in addition to the ability to work with off-camera flash.
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
Having a modest rating of 54, the Pentax RS1500 is reasonably appropriate for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of picture quality plus portability.
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
A dreadful sports photography rating of 37 suggests the Pentax RS1500 is simply not suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have great focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
Weight is really critical in picking a travel camera. All things considered, the Pentax RS1500 gets a very good 67 for a travelling camera which makes it a good choice to buy for your holidays.
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
For anybody planning to buy a camera for landscape photographs, the most significant aspect will be image quality. The Pentax RS1500 and it's dreadful rating of 40 for a landscape camera is simply not suitable compared to its competition.
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
A camera for vlogging really should come with a moving display, mic port and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things into account, the Pentax RS1500 is simply not suitable for vlogging as it comes to a dreadful rating of 25.
Pentax RS1500 Alternatives
If you want alternatives to the RS1500, here is a selection of the top ranked cameras that fall under the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The graph listed below offers you a summary of the RS1500 versus it's highest scoring rivals suggested previously.
Here are a few more cameras you may view as alternative options. To see a extensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.