Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Cameras
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Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

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.

35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark IV Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5D Mark IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark IV.
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark IV conclusion.

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Less expensive
$499 vs $3249
Save money for lenses or accessories
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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Pentax K-S2

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

900 vs 410 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
41 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher-res screen
540k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
30.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
61 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
7.0 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
7.0 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
19 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
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

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-S2

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)

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Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm Lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

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

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Pentax K-S2

Canon 5D Mark III

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2139
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Nikon D810

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D810

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2346
35mm

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2346
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Compared to 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

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-500

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-500

Compared to 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

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-S1

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D5500

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$597
APS-C

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D5500

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D5500

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D5500

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