• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Canon 60D advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 1100 vs 410 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 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
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    15 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon 60D

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Newer
    10 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    859g vs 1234g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.25 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • 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 Canon 60D

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-S2

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; 3.0-inch, 1,040K-dot Vari-angle LCD is very useful for video and Live View; Sharp 18-135 kit lens with above average zoom range and I.S.; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.

  • Body not as rugged as mag-alloy 50D; AF assist only works when flash is up, though flash can be forced off; Auto-exposure not reliable in very low light; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.

  • 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 Canon 7D

Canon 60D
Canon 7D
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
Pentax K-S2
Canon 7D
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon 60D
Nikon D7000
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
Pentax K-S2
Nikon D7000
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Canon T3i

Canon 60D
Canon T3i
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $549
  • APS-C
Pentax K-S2
Canon T3i
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Pentax K-500

Canon 60D
Pentax K-500
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-S2
Pentax K-500
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon 60D
Pentax K-S1
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
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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