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Pentax Q-S1 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Pentax Q-S1

    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
    $249.95

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    Pentax Q-S1 Overview

    First introduced in August 2014 , Pentax Q-S1 is a 12.0MP Entry-Level 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's Q series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Pentax Q Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Pentax Q-S1 2014 12.0MP - 1/1.7" 5.0 fps 105 x 58 x 34mm 203g
    Pentax Q7 2013 12.0MP - 1/1.7" 5.0 fps 102 x 58 x 34mm 200g
    Pentax Q10 2012 12.0MP - 1/2.3" 5.0 fps 102 x 58 x 34mm 200g
    Pentax Q 2011 12.0MP - 1/2.3" 2.0 fps 98 x 57 x 31mm 180g

    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 #93 out of 163 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #227 out of 1131 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Pentax Q-S1 Type Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

    Pentax Q-S1 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

    Now let's get in to more details of Pentax Q-S1's specs and feature, and list out its pro's and con's compared to average cameras in its class.

    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
    Flash Sync Port

    Buy Pentax Q-S1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    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
    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. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC.

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

    Popular Pentax Q-S1 Lenses
    Model Focal Length on Q-S1 Max Aperture Weight Focusing Price
    Pentax 06 Telephoto 15-45mm
    84-252mm F2.8 90gr AF $113.75
    Pentax 01 Standard Prime
    50.4mm F1.9 37gr AF $95.87
    Pentax 03 Fish-Eye
    16.8mm F5.6 29gr MF $96.50
    Pentax 08 Wide Zoom
    22.4-33.6mm F3.7 - F4.0 75gr AF $314.72
    Pentax 02 Standard Zoom
    28-84mm F2.8 - F4.5 96gr AF $132.00

    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. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax Q-S1 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 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 Sensor Size Comparison

    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 395g, Pentax Q-S1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 34mm, it is also quite small, 12mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Pentax Q-S1
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Pentax Q-S1
    Min
    Average
    Max

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

    Pentax Q-S1 Body Size 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 Real Life Body Size Comparison


    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Pentax Q-S1 with its main competitors:

    Pentax Q-S1 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Sensor Weight vs Q-S1 Thickness vs Q-S1
    Pentax Q7 12.0MP - 1/1.7" 200g 3g lighter 34mm equal thickness
    Sony A6000 24.0MP - APS-C 344g 141g heavier 45mm 11mm thicker
    Olympus E-PL7 16.0MP - Four Thirds 357g 154g heavier 38mm 4mm thicker
    Panasonic GM1 16.0MP - Four Thirds 204g 1g heavier 30mm 4mm thinner
    Leica M9 18.0MP - Full frame 585g 382g heavier 37mm 3mm thicker
    Sony a5000 20.0MP - APS-C 269g 66g heavier 36mm 2mm thicker
    Nikon 1 J5 21.0MP - 1" 231g 28g heavier 32mm 2mm thinner
    Pentax Q10 12.0MP - 1/2.3" 200g 3g lighter 34mm equal thickness

    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 Features
    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.



    Pentax Q-S1 back view and LCD

    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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Max Shutter speed
    Pentax Q-S1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 5 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec.

    Flash
    Q-S1 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing
    Pentax Q-S1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

    Pentax Q-S1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    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 or in a similar price range.

    Connectivity and Storage

    You can connect Q-S1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or 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 353 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 Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

    Pentax Q-S1
    Min
    Average
    Max

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

    Pentax Q-S1 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Pentax Q7
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 250shots No No No
    Sony A6000
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No Yes
    Olympus E-PL7
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No No
    Panasonic GM1
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 230shots Yes No No
    Leica M9
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    None 350shots No No No
    Sony a5000
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 420shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon 1 J5
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    3840 x 2160 250shots Yes No Yes
    Pentax Q10
    >>Compare to Q-S1
    1920 x 1080 270shots No No No

    Lowest Price
    Current Lowest price for Pentax Q-S1 is $249.95

    $249.95

    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 63 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 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
    Pentax Q7
    Compare
    Sony A6000
    Sony A6000
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL7
    Olympus E-PL7
    Compare
    Panasonic GM1
    Panasonic GM1
    Compare
    Leica M9
    Leica M9
    Compare
    Sony a5000
    Sony a5000
    Compare
    Nikon 1 J5
    Nikon 1 J5
    Compare
    Pentax Q10
    Pentax Q10
    Compare
    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.

    Sony A33
    Sony A33
    Compare
    Nikon D5100
    Nikon D5100
    Compare
    Pentax K-S1
    Pentax K-S1
    Compare
    Sony A900
    Sony A900
    Compare
    Sony A850
    Sony A850
    Compare
    Leica S2
    Leica S2
    Compare
    Canon 1200D
    Canon 1200D
    Compare
    Olympus E-600
    Olympus E-600
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax Q-S1
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have RAW support?
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Pentax Q-S1?
    What is the Sensor Size of Pentax Q-S1?
    is the Pentax Q-S1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Pentax Q-S1 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax Q-S1?
    Pentax Q-S1 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Pentax
    Model Pentax Q-S1
    Announced 2014-08-04
    Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
    Price $249.95
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Pentax Q
    Number of Lenses 8
    Focal Length Multiplier 5.6×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 3″
    Screen Resolution 460k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
    Flash Modes Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Size 1/1.7"
    Sensor Dimensions 7.44 x 5.58 mm
    Sensor Area 41.52mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4000 x 3000
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 203g
    Physical Dimensions 105 x 58 x 34mm
    Battery Life 250 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model D-LI68
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 12 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC card
    Storage Slots 1
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