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Pentax Q-S1

 
Pentax Q-S1 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax Q-S1 overview

Pentax Q-S1 is Pentax's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera first announced on August of 2014. The camera houses a 12MP, BSI-CMOS 1/1.7" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000.

The Q-S1 places at #114 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & all round #547 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to test our Advanced camera filter to see camera ratings based on your personalized requirements.

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Below is a diagram of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Pentax Q-S1 history

The Pentax Q-S1 has a history of related cameras. Below, you can find all previous and more recent models alongside main specifications.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Pentax-Q-S1 front thumbnailPentax Q-S112MP1/1.7"5.0 fps2014
Pentax-Q7 front thumbnailPentax Q7
Q-S1 vs Q7
12MP1/1.7"5.0 fps2013
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q-S1 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Pentax Q-S1 based on criterias that are normally viewed as crucial in a digital camera.

flash built-in
great min ISO (100)
has HDMI out
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
manual focus
nice screen size (3")
provides face detection autofocus
provides tracking autofocus
saves RAW formats
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
bad battery (250 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing external mic support
missing headphone support
no articulating screen
pixelated screen (460 thousand dots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Pentax Q-S1 Sensor specifications

The Pentax Q-S1 is powered by the Q Engine chip. The sensor spec on the Pentax Q-S1 is 7.44mm x 5.58mm (1/1.7"). The 42 mm² sensor can resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter can lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 12 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800. RAW files are supported so the user has wider margin for error.

The image below shows the Q-S1's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The Q-S1 sensor has a crop factor of 4.8 and is displayed in green.

Pentax Q-S1 sensor size Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax Q-S1 dimensions

Pentax Q-S1 weighs 0.45 lb (203 gr / 7.16 ounces) & the sizing of the camera is 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3"). The weight of normal Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr and the Pentax Q-S1 is lighter when compared with other rivals.

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Below is a photo of the Pentax Q-S1 beside a softdrink to help you to get a sense of its scale.

Pentax Q-S1 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will illustrate the button layout on the Q-S1.

Pentax Q-S1 topview buttons dials

Pentax Q-S1 Lens specifications

The Q-S1 fits the Pentax Q mount and has 8 lenses on sale. Below is some of the lenses we have in our collection which will work with the Q-S1.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Pentax-03-Fish-Eye lensPentax 03 Fish-Eye3mmf/5.6 29g
Pentax-01-Standard-Prime lensPentax 01 Standard Prime9mmf/1.9 37g
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Pentax-05-Toy-Lens-Telephoto lensPentax 05 Toy Lens Telephoto18mmf/8.0 18g
Pentax-06-Telephoto-15-45mm lensPentax 06 Telephoto 15-45mm15-45mmf/2.8 90g
Pentax-02-Standard-Zoom lensPentax 02 Standard Zoom5-15mmf/2.8-4.5 96g
Pentax-07-Mount-Shield-Lens lensPentax 07 Mount Shield Lens12mmf/9.0 8g
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Pentax-04-Toy-Lens-Wide lensPentax 04 Toy Lens Wide6mmf/7.1 21g
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Pentax Q-S1 Connectivity

The Q-S1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that contain NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to copy files and oftentimes alter camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

A few applications even provide a Liveview and click the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. Almost all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB port.

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Pentax Q-S1 Video specifications

The maximum video quality on the Pentax Q-S1 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality offers a decent balance in video quality vs file sizes but FULL HD is not going to leave you with any room to crop. The camera doesn't feature a microphone or headphone jack so you get no control over the sound. It is perhaps best to consider another camera if you want good sound for your videos.

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Pentax Q-S1 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing for the Pentax Q-S1 so you need to be cautious in rainy and dusty conditions.

Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax Q-S1 is equipped with a 3 inch fixed display boasting a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display isn't a touch screen.

Pentax Q-S1 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ViewFinder specifications for Pentax Q-S1 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be really helpful in bright outdoor conditions which can make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.

Pentax Q-S1 Shutter specifications

Pentax Q-S1 continuous shooting speed is 5.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

Photography Glossary

Pentax Q-S1 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Pentax Q-S1 comes with both built in flash along with external flash ability.

Pentax Q-S1 Autofocusing specifications

Pentax Q-S1 comes with just Contrast Based Autofocus & doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker & accurate when compared with Contrast Based focusing. The camera supports Face detection making it handy for taking portraits of people.

It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Pentax Q-S1 includes manual focusing if needed in low light situations or you want to have more exact control on focusing.

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Pentax Q-S1 Battery life

The battery (D-LI68) for the Pentax Q-S1 is built to last for 250 photographs as per the CIPA measurements making it less compared to it's competition. The general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has got the highest possible (750) battery life in this type of cameras.

Below is a number of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras having the strongest battery life:

Pentax Q-S1 for varying categories of photography

The following graph shows a summation of the Pentax Q-S1 for varying categories of photography. To check out more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography highlights

The Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 46 which is decent, and means the camera is reasonably suitable for portrait photography. Taking portraits favors greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support in addition to the potential to work with external flash.

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focusing manually
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")

Pentax Q-S1 Street photography features

Coming in at a above average points total of 69, the Pentax Q-S1 is a very decent option for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than others (203g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/1.7")

Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera

A terrible sports photography points total of 37 suggests the Pentax Q-S1 is just not very good for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have excellent focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery life (250 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus

Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography advice

Size is extremely important in getting a camera for travel. All things considered, the Pentax Q-S1 gets a modest 60 for a travel camera which makes it relatively adequate to take on your journeys.

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lighter than competitors (203g)
built-in flash
bad battery (250 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen

Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography info

For anybody planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most important factor will no doubt be image quality. The Pentax Q-S1 with it's moderate score of 55 as a landscape camera is reasonably adequate among it's competition.

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focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 shots)

Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging info

A vlogging camera should have a articulating screen, microphone port and if possible image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Pentax Q-S1 is just not very good as a vlog camera as it receives a terrible score of 35.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port

Pentax Q-S1 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the Q-S1, here is a selection of the top ranked cameras that fall into the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line chart below will give you a bird's eye view of the Q-S1 compared to it's top ranking competitors shown previously.

There are more cameras you may look into as alternate options. To go through a detailed comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Pentax
Model type
Pentax Q-S1
Type
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed
2014-08-04
Physical type
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Powered by
Q Engine
Sensor size
1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions
7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area
41.5mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
12800
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mount type
Pentax Q
Number of lenses
8
Crop factor
4.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Screen resolution
460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30s
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes
Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
203 grams (0.45 lb)
Dimensions
105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
250 photographs
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery ID
D-LI68
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots
One
Price at launch
$250