[6BQ5]

DxOMark posted some scores and numbers on the K-S1. I understand that numbers and tests like this only tell one part of the story. It's the photos and user experiences that really count. However, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed the K-S1 didn't score higher than a K-3. In some cases it seemed like my K-30 scored better.

Pentax K-S1 Sensor Review: A ?flashy? new entry-level DSLR from Pentax - DxOMark

Thoughts?

[normhead]

That's enough of a difference to see.. and at the expense of low light performance... they're going the wrong way on that one.

[6BQ5]

I agree. Seeing that performance makes me want to hug a roll of Portra 160 and kiss my K-30.

[Na Horuk]

Thanks for posting the link, but I always need interpreters for DxO

[JPT]

One thing to note is that DXO awarded the same score to the K-5 II and the K-5 IIs, which means that the presence or absence of an AA filter is not reflected in their scores. So I would suggest that it doesn't tell the whole story. After all, the K-5 IIs does in reality output better files than the K-5 II by all accounts.

[rawr]

Although it seems a step backwards from earlier Pentaxes, to keep things in perspective note that the K-S1 scores higher than the 20MP Canon 7D II that DxOMark recently reviewed just before the K-S1. And on the low-light score, it performs identically to the 7DII ....

[normhead]

The consensus amongst us techno geeks was that 5 points on the DxO scale would be a noticeable difference. And what is this Canon thing with under 12 EV dynamic range. I notice the .8 difference between the K-5 and K-3. How do Canon users live with these things?

[Rondec]

Looks pretty decent. Two points different from the K3. Slight lower dynamic range at base iso and slightly lower high iso performance. Probably not visible in real world shooting.

[rawr]

How do Canon users live with these things?

They have good lenses, AF and video to console them.
But many Canon users do seem to be getting restless about the slow pace of sensor technology improvement on their platform.

[luftfluss]

I wonder if Pentax bought those Sony 20MP sensors on closeout...

[Mikesul]

I wish it were easier to trust Dxo. Many of their scores seem sensible but so many are hard to see in the equipment. I would be surprised if any test showed the KS-1 as superior in any way to the K3. Pentax would be unlikely to do that.

[Fogel70]

The score is almost identical to Sony A3000 which use the same 20MP sensor...

[Winder]

The 20MP Sony sensor is only used by one other Sony camera. Ricoh probably got a really good deal on it.

[BrianR]

It does look like a step back but it's pretty close to the k-35/50/500 scores, but with some added resolution that isn't reflected here of course.

One thing to note is that DXO awarded the same score to the K-5 II and the K-5 IIs, which means that the presence or absence of an AA filter is not reflected in their scores. So I would suggest that it doesn't tell the whole story. After all, the K-5 IIs does in reality output better files than the K-5 II by all accounts.

Their 'Overall Score' definitely doesn't take everything into account, they give a few more details here: Overall Score - DxOMark

Unfortunately they don't give exactly how it's calculated (afaik), but they do give a little more on how the three 'Use Case' are determined: Use Case Scores - DxOMark and imo these are more useful pieces of info than their overall score (but again, they don't tell you everything, just some usefull pieces though).

Given how they score things, you don't really expect much of a difference out of any of Pentax's 16mp sensor cameras, a list of the recent Pentax offerings: Pentax K-S1 vs K-3 vs K-5 IIs: Different resolutions, similar Sensor Scores - DxOMark shows the k-5 series winning by 1EV dynamic range over the k-50/500/30 (Iso 80 vs 100 on the k5 series and 14 bit vs 12 bit maybe an extra kick?), but the iso performance is similar, a little better on the most recent k5ii versions. Did they get better at squeaking the most out of the sensor since the k5 or is it sample variation? I really would like to see them test 5-10 cameras of the exact same model to see how the scores differ across body samples. I wouldn't expect bodies to vary from copy to copy as much as lenses can, but it might be interested to see if this is the case.

[JPT]

Pentax/Ricoh always said the sensor used in the K-01/K-30/K-50/K-500 was different from the K-5 sensor. A lot of people didn't believe them and just assumed they were the same because they were the same resolution and maker.

I think this 20mp sensor is the successor to the low-end 16mp sensor first seen in the K-01 and the 24mp sensor is the successor to the high-end 16mp sensor in the K-5 series. I imagine there is a difference in component cost between the two. Fortunately, they are all very good performers.

According to mtngal, the K-S1's files are easier to deal with than the K-3's, which makes sense on a relatively cheap, entry-level body.