Canon N2 vs Pentax K-S2

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Canon N2 vs Pentax K-S2

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.1 megapixels
28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon N2 Review.

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.

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Differences

Canon N2 advantages over Pentax K-S2

Less expensive
$300 vs $800 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Thinner
32 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon N2

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 4.29 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
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 200 shots
Capture more photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
922k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
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 JPEG shooting
5.2 fps vs 2.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

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
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read N2 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon N2

Canon N2 (Black)

Canon N2 (Black)
Canon N2 (White)

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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)

All K-S2 Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon N2.
Read our Canon N2 Preview

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

The Competition

Compared to Canon N

Canon N2

Canon N

$699
1/2.3 inch

More pixels
Faster JPEG shooting

$749
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon N2 vs Canon N

Pentax K-S2

Canon N

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$749
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon N

Compared to Nikon S6500

Canon N2

Nikon S6500

$699
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$400
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon N2 vs Nikon S6500

Pentax K-S2

Nikon S6500

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$400
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon S6500

Compared to Pentax K-500

Canon N2

Pentax K-500

$699
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon N2 vs Pentax K-500

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

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax K-500

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon N2

Pentax K-S1

$699
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon N2 vs 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

Compared to Nikon S6900

Canon N2

Nikon S6900

$699
1/2.3 inch

Slower slow-motion
Longer exposure

$500
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon N2 vs Nikon S6900

Pentax K-S2

Nikon S6900

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$500
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon S6900

Compare Other Cameras?