Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-S1→Pentax WG-90
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the K-S1. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the WG-90
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Generation10 years newer (2024 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
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-S1 | WG-90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.5 | ||
| Street | +0.1 | ||
| Travel | +1.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.7 | ||
| Documentary | +0.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +2.1 | ||
| Food | -1.1 | ||
| Macro | -1.4 | ||
| Architecture | -1.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.9 | ||
| Underwater | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-S1 | WG-90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £72 used | £379 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.12MP APS-C CMOS | 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | 1080p/30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type) | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 5.4fps | 1fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | 260 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ↓ |
| Weight | 558g (with battery) | 194g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | Fixed screen, no touch | |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Fixed 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-S1 and WG-90 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 WG-90 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the K-S1
Related buying guides
Camera family history