Pentax S12 vs Pentax K-01

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Pentax S12 vs Pentax K-01

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1/1.7 inch 43.3mm²
12.0 megapixels
37.00mm - 111.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Pentax S12 Review.

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-01 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-01.

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Differences

Pentax S12 advantages over Pentax K-01

Less expensive
$280 vs $900 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Thinner
23 mm vs 58 mm
Thinner

Pentax K-01 advantages over Pentax S12

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/1.7 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 1.90 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
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

500 vs 270 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
921k vs 232k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
16.3 vs 12.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
30 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
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

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Buy the Pentax S12

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Buy the Pentax K-01

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 40mm Lens

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Pentax S12.
Read our Pentax S12 Preview

Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.
Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.
Read our Pentax K-01 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax A40

Pentax S12

Pentax A40

$280
1/1.7 inch

$300
1/1.7 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Pentax S12 vs Pentax A40

Pentax K-01

Pentax A40

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$300
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Pentax A40

Compared to Samsung SL310

Pentax S12

Samsung SL310

$280
1/1.7 inch

Manual focus

$230
1/1.72 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Pentax S12 vs Samsung SL310

Pentax K-01

Samsung SL310

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$230
1/1.72 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung SL310

Compared to Samsung TL34HD

Pentax S12

Samsung TL34HD

$280
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Manual focus

$330
1/1.72 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
HDMI out

Compare Pentax S12 vs Samsung TL34HD

Pentax K-01

Samsung TL34HD

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$330
1/1.72 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung TL34HD

Compared to Samsung NX10

Pentax S12

Samsung NX10

$280
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax S12 vs Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX10

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX10

Compared to Samsung NX20

Pentax S12

Samsung NX20

$280
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

$400
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax S12 vs Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX20

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$400
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX20

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