Pentax K-S1 review

IMAGE QUALITY

Otherwise, the K-S1 put in a solid performance in our image quality tests. Automatic exposures were hard to fault, and colours in JPEGs were lifelike at default settings. The kit lens’ focus deteriorated slightly towards the left edge of wide-angle shots but it was much better at the telephoto end of the zoom.

The 20-megapixel sensor delivered plenty of detail, regardless of the AA filter setting. We were able to eke out slightly more fine detail by running RAW files through Lightroom, but those who prefer to shoot JPEG won’t be disappointed.

Noise levels compared well with its rivals. Both the JPEG and RAW output exhibited less noise at ISO 6400 than the Canon EOS 700D, and it was on a par with the Nikon D5300 for RAW. The Nikon’s JPEGs had a slight advantage, though, with less chroma noise in shadows. The K-S1’s image quality fell apart at ISO 12800 and 25600, with details becoming extremely vague. Overall, the Nikon D5300 takes a narrow lead for image quality, but all three are pretty close and it’s not something that would strongly influence our buying decision.

^ Focus is sharp and the long end of the zoom, and these subtle fine details have been handled well . (1/100s, f/5.6, ISO 100, 82mm equivalent)

^ Wide-angle shots aren’t quite as sharp, particularly towards the left edge of the frame. (1/100s, f/5.6, ISO 100, 27mm equivalent)

^ Shooting at dusk has pushed the ISO speed up to 3200. Fine details have suffered but it’s a respectable snapshot. (1/100s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 82mm equivalent)

^ There’s a fair amount of grain at ISO 6400 but it’s not too intrusive and colours are balanced. (1/30s, f/4, ISO 6400, 36mm equivalent)

^ Image quality drops significantly at ISO 12800, with blotchy grain and barely any fine detail. (1/100s, f/5.6, ISO 12800, 72mm equivalent)

CONCLUSION

The K-S1 is a welcome improvement on last year’s Pentax K-50 and Pentax K-500. It costs a little less than the K-50 did at launch, and while it lacks weather sealing, it’s not hobbled in other ways as the entry-level K-500 was. The K-50 remains a tempting proposition, though, currently available for around £400.

It’s a shame that Pentax’s efforts to shake off its conservative reputation concentrates on cosmetics rather than technology. The Canon EOS 700D has an articulated touchscreen, smooth video autofocus and off-camera flash control. The Nikon D5300 also has an articulated screen plus Wi-Fi, GPS and a 39-point autofocus system. The K-S1 has a novel but ultimately insignificant AA filter simulator, comes in a choice of colours and is covered in lights. Then again, it also costs slightly less and its big viewfinder might well be the trump card that seals the deal. Despite its appearance, this is a camera for people who want to take photos the old fashioned way. In that respect, it does a fine job.