Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-S2

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Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-S2

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APS-C 355.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3100 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3100.

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.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3200
Compare D3100 vs D3200
Compare Nikon D3200 vs Pentax K-S2

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Differences

Nikon D3100 advantages over Pentax K-S2

Bigger pixels
~ 5.01 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

550 vs 410 shots
Capture more photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Nikon D3100

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
9 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Newer
10 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.53x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.1 vs 14.2 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
Faster JPEG shooting
5.2 fps vs 2.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 12800 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
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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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Adorama
Read D3100 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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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

Read our Nikon D3100 Full Review

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 Sony DSLR-A380

Nikon D3100

Sony DSLR-A380

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$849
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K-S2

Sony DSLR-A380

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$849
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D3100

Sony A33

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$540
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Sony A33

Pentax K-S2

Sony A33

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$540
APS-C

Bigger pixels
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony A33

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3100

Pentax K-r

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$850
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-r

Pentax K-S2

Pentax K-r

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$850
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Pentax K-500

Nikon D3100

Pentax K-500

$700
APS-C

HDMI out
Bigger JPEG buffer

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D3100 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

Nikon D3100

Pentax K-S1

$700
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Bigger JPEG buffer

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3100 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

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