Pentax Q vs Pentax Q10: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Pentax Q 2.1 e⁻ (ISO 125), Pentax Q10 2.7 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Pentax Q

The Pentax Q was measured at 18 ISO settings from ISO 125 to ISO 6400. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (125) read noise is 1.04 DN, or 2.1 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 800 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Full well at base ISO is about 8,427 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 260.

Pentax Q10

The Pentax Q10 was measured at 19 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 0.86 DN, or 2.7 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 1000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Full well at base ISO is about 13,070 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 320.

Pentax Q vs Pentax Q10 read noise table

ISO	Pentax Q	Pentax Q10
100	–	0.859
125	1.042	0.993
160	1.240	1.165
200	1.434	1.376
250	1.647	1.659
320	1.945	1.945
400	2.362	2.297
500	2.828	2.713
640	3.411	3.182
800	4.112	3.918
1000	5.098	4.659
1250	6.320	5.736
1600	7.835	6.916
2000	9.646	8.456
2500	11.632	10.411
3200	14.420	12.729
4000	18.126	15.671
5000	22.627	19.973
6400	30.065	25.281

Popular comparisons

All cameras · Open the full tool