Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 190 IS

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 190 IS

Leave Feedback

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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.0 megapixels
24.00mm - 240.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon 190 IS Review.

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon 190 IS

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
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 1.20 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 190 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
Higher-res screen
230k vs 78k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
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 0.8 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 1600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon 190 IS advantages over Pentax K-S2

Thinner
23 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner

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
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

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
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 190 IS User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

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

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 190 IS

Canon ELPH 190 IS (Blue)

Canon ELPH 190 IS (Blue)
Canon ELPH 190 IS (Black)
Canon ELPH 190 IS (Red)

All 190 IS Deals

Review Excerpt

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

We haven’t reviewed the Canon 190 IS.
Read our Canon 190 IS Preview

The Competition

Compared to 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

Canon 190 IS

Pentax K-500

$189
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 190 IS vs Pentax K-500

Compared to Canon 150 IS

Pentax K-S2

Canon 150 IS

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$149
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 150 IS

Canon 190 IS

Canon 150 IS

$189
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$149
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 190 IS vs Canon 150 IS

Compared to 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

Canon 190 IS

Pentax K-S1

$189
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 190 IS vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D5500

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$697
APS-C

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D5500

Canon 190 IS

Nikon D5500

$189
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 190 IS vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Canon 180

Pentax K-S2

Canon 180

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$167
1/2.3 inch

Thinner
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 180

Canon 190 IS

Canon 180

$189
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Built-in Wi-Fi

$167
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

Compare Canon 190 IS vs Canon 180

Compare Other Cameras?