Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-S2

Cameras
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Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-S2

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX530 HS Review.

APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-S2 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-S2 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-S2.
Compare Pentax K-S2 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-S2 conclusion.

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Differences

Canon SX530 HS advantages over Pentax K-S2

Less expensive
$259* vs $499
Save money for lenses or accessories

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon SX530 HS

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 4.29 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

410 vs 210 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
64 mm vs 91 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Higher-res screen
230k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
5.2 fps vs 1.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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Body Only (White)

Body Only (White)
Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Black/Orange)
Kit with 18-50mm WR Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-50mm WR Lens (Black/Orange)
Kit with 18-50mm WR Lens (White)

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon SX530 HS.
Read our Canon SX530 HS Preview

Very compact for a weather-sealed DSLR; Good ergonomics and great viewfinder; Excellent image quality; Decent performance for its class; Articulated screen is great for difficult compositions; Offers features not found in other Pentax DSLRs
18-50mm kit lens is fiddly and prone to jamming when retracted; Wi-Fi is slow and unintuitive; Slow startup; Limited movie mode; Poor battery life for a DSLR; Priced too close to its enthusiast-grade sibling
Read our Pentax K-S2 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus SP-820UZ

Canon SX530 HS

Olympus SP-820UZ

$259
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$299
1/2.3 inch

Shoots 60p video
Bulb shutter

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Pentax K-S2

Olympus SP-820UZ

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$299
1/2.3 inch

Slow-motion videos

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Compared to Pentax K-500

Canon SX530 HS

Pentax K-500

$259
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-500

Pentax K-S2

Pentax K-500

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$597
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Higher-res screen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax K-500

Compared to Canon SX520 HS

Canon SX530 HS

Canon SX520 HS

$259
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
More telephoto lens reach

$420
1/2.3 inch

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Pentax K-S2

Canon SX520 HS

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$420
1/2.3 inch

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX520 HS

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon SX530 HS

Pentax K-S1

$259
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Pentax K-S1

Pentax K-S2

Pentax K-S1

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$502
APS-C

Higher-res screen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon SX540 HS

Canon SX530 HS

Canon SX540 HS

$259
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$364
1/2.3 inch

More pixels
Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX530 HS vs Canon SX540 HS

Pentax K-S2

Canon SX540 HS

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$364
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX540 HS

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