• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 II advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Thinner
    44 mm vs 64 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher-res screen
    346k vs 230k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.74x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.4 fps vs 5.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    10.4 fps vs 5.2 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    13 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/6000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Olympus E-M5 II

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 410 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 18 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

  • 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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Review Excerpt

  • Excellent handling in a compact, weather-sealed body; Crisp, roomy electronic viewfinder; Image quality that can take the fight to APS-C DSLRs; Unique high-res mode lets it bat far above its weight for static scenes; Extremely fast 10 fps burst shooting, Excellent video feature set

  • Control dials are easily bumped; Below-average battery life at default settings; Buffer depths for raw shooters are a bit limited; 16-megapixel sensor resolution feels dated; Weak bundled flash strobe

  • Read our Olympus E-M5 II 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 Pentax K-500

Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-500
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M5 II 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 Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GX7
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • High resolution composite
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GX7

Pentax K-S2
Panasonic GX7
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-S1
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Olympus E-M5 II 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 Panasonic GX8

Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GX8
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • High resolution composite
  • Fast startup
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GX8

Pentax K-S2
Panasonic GX8
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic GX8

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GX85
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • High resolution composite
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GX85

Pentax K-S2
Panasonic GX85
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic GX85

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