Pentax Q-S1 Review

Main Features

12MP - 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 12800

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3″ Fixed Type Screen

5 fps continuous shooting

1920 x 1080 video resolution

203g. 105 x 58 x 34 mm

$336.89

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Pentax Q-S1 Overview

First introduced in August 2014 , Pentax Q-S1 is a 12.0MP Mirrorless camera with a 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor.

Pentax Q-S1 is the latest member of Pentax Q series of cameras. Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Pentax Q-S1 vs Q7 vs Q10 vs Q

Pentax Q-S1 has an Overall Score of 66/100 and ranked #82 out of 152 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #211 out of 1112 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Pentax Q-S1 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

PROs

Image Stabilization

1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution

Face Detection Focusing

12.800 Max ISO

1/8000s High Shutter Speed

203g Light Body

Timelapse Recording

Top LCD Display

Flash Sync Port

Buy Pentax Q-S1 from AMAZON

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No External Viewfinder Option

Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Low Screen Resolution ( 460kdots )

Low Battery Life: 250 shots

No Environmental Sealing

What type of Photography is Pentax Q-S1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Pentax Q-S1 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the Q-S1 compares with the average Mirrorless camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Pentax Q-S1 for Portrait Photography

Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 66 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling

Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder

Read the details of how we scored Pentax Q-S1 for Portrait Photography

Pentax Q-S1 for Street Photography

Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 80 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization

Medium sized Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Pentax Q-S1 for Street Photography

Pentax Q-S1 for Sports Photography

Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 66 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
Image Stabilization
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Ergonomics&Handling

Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
No Built-in Viewfinder

Read the details of how we scored Pentax Q-S1 for Sports Photography

Pentax Q-S1 for Daily Photography

Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 64 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

203g
Medium size Body

Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Pentax Q-S1 for Daily Photography

Pentax Q-S1 for Landscape Photography

Pentax Q-S1 has a score of 44 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Pentax Q-S1 for Landscape Photography

Pentax Q-S1 Lens Mount and Lenses

Pentax Q-S1 has a Pentax Q lens mount and currently there are 8 native lenses available for this mount. Pentax Q mount has some of the smallest interchangable lenses, well accompanying the tiny Q bodies making it the smallest ILC system in the world. Thanks to short flange focal length, it is possible to use many other lenses from other mounths with the help of a suitable adapter.
Q-S1 also has a sensor based image stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on Q-S1, and this is a big advantage.

Here are some of the most popular Pentax Q-S1 Lenses on Camera Decision:

	Focal Length on Q-S1	Max Aperture	Weight	Focusing	Price
Pentax 06 Telephoto 15-45mm	84-252mm	F2.8	90gr	AF	$0.00
Pentax 03 Fish-Eye	16.8mm	F5.6	29gr	MF	$96.49
Pentax 01 Standard Prime	50.4mm	F1.9	37gr	AF	$121.80
Pentax 02 Standard Zoom	28-84mm	F2.8 - F4.5	96gr	AF	$119.99
Pentax 08 Wide Zoom	22.4-33.6mm	F3.7 - F4.0	75gr	AF	$336.47

Check our Pentax Q-S1 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Pentax Q-S1 Sensor and Photography Features

Pentax Q-S1 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Q Engine processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. Q-S1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Pentax Q-S1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Canon SX730 HS with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax Q-S1 vs Canon SX730 HS or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Pentax Q-S1's 1/1.7" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Pentax Q-S1 Physical Specs

Pentax Q-S1 weighs 203 g (0.45 lb / 7.16 oz) and has external dimensions of 105 x 58 x 34 mm (4.13 x 2.28 x 1.34″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 392g, Pentax Q-S1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 34mm, it is also quite small, 11mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Pentax Q-S1

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Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Pentax Q-S1

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Average

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Here is the front and top view image of Pentax Q-S1 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax Q-S1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Pentax Q-S1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Pentax Q-S1 Other Featuress

LCD and Viewfinder
Pentax Q-S1 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Q-S1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Olympus OM-D E-M10 (Compare) or Canon EOS M3 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Photography Features
Pentax Q-S1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 5 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec . Q-S1 has a built-in flash, and you can also mount your external flashes too.

Pentax Q-S1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

Video Features
With Pentax Q-S1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30,25,24 fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Pentax Q-S1 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
Q-S1 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
Pentax Q-S1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Canon EOS M3 or in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

You can connect your camera to other devices through HDMI port or via USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery Pentax Q-S1 is powered by D-LI68 battery which provides a shooting life of 250 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 349 shots, Pentax Q-S1 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend Q-S1 owners to buy some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Mirrorless Cameras

Pentax Q-S1

Min

Average

Max

Sony A9 with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Pentax Q-S1 vs Sony A9 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Pentax Q-S1 is $336.89

$336.89

Pentax Q-S1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Pentax Q-S1 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of Q-S1 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax Q-S1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Pentax Q-S1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax Q-S1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Pentax Q7

Compare

Sony A6000

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Leica M9

Compare

Olympus E-PL7

Compare

Panasonic GM1

Compare

Sony a5000

Compare

Nikon 1 J5

Compare

Leica M Typ 240

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Pentax Q-S1 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Pentax Q-S1 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Pentax Q-S1's price range.

Nikon D5300