Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-S1

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Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-S1

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3300 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3300.
Compare Nikon D3300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3300 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-S1 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3400
Compare D3300 vs D3400
Compare Nikon D3400 vs Pentax K-S1

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Differences

Nikon D3300 advantages over Pentax K-S1

In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D3300 test data on DxO Mark K-S1 test data on DxO Mark

1,385 vs 1,061 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

700 vs 480 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 20 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-S1 advantages over Nikon D3300

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
More cross-type AF points
9 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D3300 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-S1 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D3300

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Grey)
Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Red)

All D3300 Deals

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Buy the Pentax K-S1

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses

All K-S1 Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality with lots of fine detail; Very good high ISO performance; Good dynamic range; Good print quality; Deep buffers with JPEGs; 1080/60p video; Uncompressed HDMI output.
AF struggles in low-light; Contrast-detect AF in live view is slow; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No AE bracketing; No built-in Wi-Fi.
Read our Nikon D3300 Review

We haven’t reviewed the Pentax K-S1.
Read our Pentax K-S1 Preview

The Competition

Compared to Sony A58

Nikon D3300

Sony A58

$382
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Sony A58

Pentax K-S1

Sony A58

$502
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S1 vs Sony A58

Compared to Pentax K-500

Nikon D3300

Pentax K-500

$382
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Higher effective ISO

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-500

Pentax K-S1

Pentax K-500

$502
APS-C

HDMI out
More pixels

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax K-500

Compared to Canon T5

Nikon D3300

Canon T5

$382
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$399
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Canon T5

Pentax K-S1

Canon T5

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$399
APS-C

Compare Pentax K-S1 vs Canon T5

Compared to Nikon D5500

Nikon D3300

Nikon D5500

$382
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S1 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Pentax K-S2

Nikon D3300

Pentax K-S2

$382
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-S2

Pentax K-S1

Pentax K-S2

$502
APS-C

Higher-res screen

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-S1 vs Pentax K-S2

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