• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Pentax K-01 advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 500 vs 410 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Lighter weight
    611g vs 859g
    Lighter weight
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 5.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 2.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • More telephoto lens reach
    75 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.80 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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
  • 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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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-S2

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

  • 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

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX10
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Pentax K-S2
Samsung NX10
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro1

Pentax K-01
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas
Pentax K-S2
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

Compared to Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
Pentax K-S2
Samsung NX20
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compared to Pentax K-500

Pentax K-01
Pentax K-500
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • External Mic Jack
  • HDMI out
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Pentax K-01
Pentax K-S1
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • External Mic Jack
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
Pentax K-S2
Pentax K-S1
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
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