Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX70

Cameras
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Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX70

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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
21.00mm - 1365.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX70 Review.

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon SX70

Less expensive
$499 vs $599*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.29 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 325 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
64 mm vs 116 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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 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

Canon SX70 advantages over Pentax K-S2

Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
5 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
307k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Both provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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
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

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read SX70 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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Buy the Canon SX70

Canon SX70 (Black)

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

We haven’t reviewed the Canon SX70.
Read our Canon SX70 Preview

The Competition

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 SX70

Pentax K-500

$652
1/2.3 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX70 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 SX70

Pentax K-S1

$652
1/2.3 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX70 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon SX60

Pentax K-S2

Canon SX60

$499
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$449
1/2.3 inch

Higher-res screen
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX60

Canon SX70

Canon SX60

$652
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$449
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Canon SX70 vs Canon SX60

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 SX70

Nikon D5500

$652
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX70 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Nikon B700

Pentax K-S2

Nikon B700

$499
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$499
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon B700

Canon SX70

Nikon B700

$652
1/2.3 inch

External Mic Jack
Newer

$499
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Canon SX70 vs Nikon B700

Compare Other Cameras?