Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-S2

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Nikon D810 vs Pentax K-S2

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35mm 861.6mm²
36.3 megapixels
ISO 64 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D810 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D810 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D810.
Compare Nikon D810 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D810 conclusion.

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 D850
Compare D810 vs D850
Compare Nikon D850 vs Pentax K-S2

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Differences

Nikon D810 advantages over Pentax K-S2

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Fast startup
~0.50 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

1200 vs 410 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
15 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher-res screen
307k 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
36.3 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
51 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bigger JPEG buffer
57 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
23 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Nikon D810

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
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.21 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

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
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D810 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 24-120mm lens

All D810 Deals

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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

Handles even better than its predecessors; Absolutely spectacular images from the 36-megapixel image sensor; Unusually wide sensitivity range for its resolution; Improved performance and buffer depths; Improved video feature set; Impressive low-light autofocus
Prone to moire and false color with some subjects; No longer available with a low-pass filter; Demands excellent lenses for the best detail; White balance tends warm under tungsten lighting
Read our Nikon D810 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 Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2246
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D810 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-S2

Canon 5D Mark IV

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$2249
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D800

Nikon D810

Nikon D800

$2246
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1850
35mm

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D800

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1850
35mm

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D800

Compared to Nikon D800E

Nikon D810

Nikon D800E

$2246
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$2212
35mm

Fast startup

Compare Nikon D810 vs Nikon D800E

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D800E

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2212
35mm

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Pentax K-500

Nikon D810

Pentax K-500

$2246
35mm

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D810 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 D810

Pentax K-S1

$2246
35mm

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D810 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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