• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 819,200

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Pentax K-1 II

  • Less expensive
    $499 vs $1997
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 1.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    64 mm vs 85 mm
    Thinner
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.2 fps vs 4.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.2 fps vs 4.6 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 670 vs 410 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    105 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    25 vs 9
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Newer
    6 years vs 9 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Higher-res screen
    346k vs 230k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    36.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • More AF points
    33 vs 11
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    77 vs 28 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    17 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    819200 vs 51200 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
  • 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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • 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

  • 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
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-S2
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  • Kit with 18-50mm WR Lens (White)
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Buy the Pentax K-1 II
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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 28-105mm 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

  • Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.

  • Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.

  • Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

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

Pentax K-1 II
Pentax K-500
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Internal flash
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-1 II 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

Pentax K-1 II
Pentax K-S1
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Internal flash
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-1 II 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

Pentax K-1 II
Nikon D5500
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Pentax K-1

Pentax K-S2
Pentax K-1
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • NFC
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • High resolution composite

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II
Pentax K-1
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $1800
  • 35mm

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Nikon D850

Pentax K-S2
Nikon D850
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2664
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II
Nikon D850
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2664
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

Compare Other Cameras?