Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-50→Pentax K-S1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the K-50. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the K-S1
-
Resolution20MP vs 16MP (+4MP)
-
Generation1 year newer (2014 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | K-50 | K-S1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.2 | ||
| Street | +0.4 | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.5 | ||
| Documentary | -0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.5 | ||
| Landscape | -0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.5 | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | +0.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.1 | ||
| Architecture | +0.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-50 | K-S1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £72 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.3MP APS-C CMOS | 20.12MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | Full HD 1080p/30 | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type); contrast AF with face detection in live view | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type) | |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 5.4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) | |
| Weight | 675g (with battery) | 558g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.92x | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | |
| Mount | Pentax K | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-50 and K-S1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the K-S1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the K-50
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Camera family history