• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Olympus XZ-2 advantages over Pentax K-S1

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 69 mm
    Thinner
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Pentax K-S1 advantages over Olympus XZ-2

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/1.7 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 1.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Better color depth
    23.5 vs 20.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,061 vs 216 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.0 vs 11.3 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 480 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    20 vs 4 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/2000 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

  • 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
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus XZ-2

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-S1

Review Excerpt

  • Good image quality for its class; Fast, bright f/1.8-2.5 i.ZUIKO 4x zoom lens; Dual-purpose front Control Ring lets you select aperture or focus manually; three-inch articulating LCD touch-screen monitor.

  • Pricier than many enthusiast compacts; Image detail starts dropping off at ISO 800 and noise becomes problematic at ISO 3200; Lens cover pops off as zoom lens extends, when you turn the camera on.

The Competition

Compared to Canon G15

Olympus XZ-2
Canon G15
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Pentax K-S1
Canon G15
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Olympus XZ-2
Pentax MX-1
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Hot shoe
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 60p video
Pentax K-S1
Pentax MX-1
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony A58

Olympus XZ-2
Sony A58
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Integrated ND filter
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-S1
Sony A58
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Canon G16

Olympus XZ-2
Canon G16
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Pentax K-S1
Canon G16
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Pentax K-S2

Olympus XZ-2
Pentax K-S2
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
Pentax K-S1
Pentax K-S2
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
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