Both Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Pentax MX-1's sensor is 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) and Pentax Q's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ).
Since Pentax MX-1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Pentax Q.
Below you can see the MX-1 and Q sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q Cameras
As seen above, Pentax MX-1 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Pentax Q. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Pentax MX-1 and Pentax Q sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, MX-1 has scored 49, 2 points higher than Q.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Pentax MX-1
49
20.4 bits
11.3 Evs
208 ISO
Pentax Q
47
20.2 bits
11.1 Evs
189 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Pentax MX-1
or the
Pentax Q ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/1.7-inch versus 1/2.3-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
