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Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q Comparison

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Pentax Q10

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Pentax Q

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing Q10 and Q, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by Pentax. Pentax Q10 was introduced to market in September 2012 and Pentax Q was launched in June 2011. There is 15 months difference between Q10 and Q so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger Q10, especially in sensor tech.

Q10 and Q are members of Pentax's Q series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

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-inch	5.0 fps	102 x 58 x 34mm	200g
Pentax Q10	2012	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	5.0 fps	102 x 58 x 34mm	200g
Pentax Q	2011	12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	2.0 fps	98 x 57 x 31mm	180g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Pentax Q10 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-09-10

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

Pentax Q Mount

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

5.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

200g. 102 x 58 x 34 mm

Replaced Pentax Q Compare

Pentax Q Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-06-23

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 6400

Pentax Q Mount

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

2.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

180g. 98 x 57 x 31 mm

Pentax Q10 was replaced by Pentax Q7. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Pentax Q7 vs Pentax Q10
Pentax Q7 vs Pentax Q

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Pentax Q10 over Pentax Q

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Mech. Shutter	1/8000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	5.0fps vs 2.0fps	3 fps faster
Battery Life	270 shots vs 230 shots	40 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Flash Coverage	7.0m vs 5.6m	1.4m longer range
Color Depth	21.1 vs 20.2	higher color depth

Reasons to choose Pentax Q over Pentax Q10

Weight	180 g vs 200 g	20 g lighter
Dynamic Range	11.1 vs 10.9	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	189 vs 183	better High ISO performance

Common Strengths of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Weaknesses of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 460k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

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Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Pentax Q10 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 34 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.34″) and weighs 200 g (0.44 lb / 7.05 oz) (including batteries). Pentax Q has external dimensions of 98 x 57 x 31 mm (3.86 x 2.24 x 1.22″) and weighs 180 g (0.40 lb / 6.35 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q. Pentax Q is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 4mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Pentax Q10.

Comparison image of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q.

Comparison image of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q.

Top View Comparison image of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax Q is 20g lighter than the Pentax Q10 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q have the same Pentax Q lens mount and Small Sensor sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Q10

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Q10

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Pentax Q10 nor Pentax Q provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q: Sensor Comparison

Both Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q have 1/2.3-inch sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the Q10 and Q sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q Cameras

Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Pentax Q10 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, Q10 has scored 49, 2 points higher than Q.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Pentax Q10	49	21.1 bits	10.9 Evs	183 ISO
Pentax Q	47	20.2 bits	11.1 Evs	189 ISO

Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q have the same Pentax Q lens mount and currently there are 8 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies.

Lens Type	# of Pentax Q10 Lenses	# of Pentax Q Lenses
Standard Zoom	1	1
Standard Prime	2	2
Wideangle Zoom	1	1
Wideangle Prime	1	1
Telephoto Zoom	1	1
Telephoto Prime	1	1
SuperZoom	n/a	n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	1	1
Macro Prime	n/a	n/a
Perspective Control Prime	n/a	n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	8	8

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

Popular Pentax Q Mount Lenses for Q10 and Q

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Pentax 01 Standard Prime	1/1.7"	37gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 08 Wide Zoom	1/1.7"	75gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 06 Telephoto 15-45mm	1/1.7"	90gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 03 Fish-Eye	1/1.7"	29gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 02 Standard Zoom	1/1.7"	96gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 07 Mount Shield Lens	1/1.7"	8gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 04 Toy Lens Wide	1/1.7"	21gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax 05 Toy Lens Telephoto	1/1.7"	18gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo

What types of Photography are Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Pentax Q10 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax Q for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Pentax Q10 for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax Q for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Live-view
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Pentax Q10 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Pentax Q for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
Read the details

Image Stabilization
25 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Read the details

Pentax Q10 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax Q for Daily Photography

GOOD

200g
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

180g
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Pentax Q10 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax Q for Landscape Photography

POOR

Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Pentax Q10 vs Pentax Q: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Pentax Q10 and Pentax Q scores compare:

Pentax Q10

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #62 out of 130 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #309 out of 1235 in all Cameras

Pentax Q

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #107 out of 130 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #448 out of 1235 in all Cameras

Pentax Q10 has a higher Overall Score than the Pentax Q and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Pentax Q vs Pentax Q10 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Pentax Q10	Pentax Q
Brand	Pentax	Pentax
Announced	2012-09-10	2011-06-23
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4000 x 3000	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	125 ISO
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
Number of Focus Points	25	25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Pentax Q	Pentax Q
Number of Available Lenses	8	8
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	460k dots	460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (optional)	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/8000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	7.00 m	5.60 m
Max Flash Sync	1/2000s	1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps	2.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	200g	180g
Dimensions	102 x 58 x 34mm	98 x 57 x 31mm
Battery Life	270 shots	230 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	49	47
DxO Color Depth	21.1	20.2
DxO Dynamic Range	10.9	11.1
DxO Low Light ISO	183	189
	Report a correction	Report a correction