Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 1DX Mark II

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Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 1DX Mark II

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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.

35mm 864.0mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 1DX Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX Mark II.
Compare Canon 1DX Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 1DX Mark II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark III
Compare 1DX Mark II vs 1DX Mark III
Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon 1DX Mark III

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Canon 1DX Mark II

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
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

Canon 1DX Mark II advantages over Pentax K-S2

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.58 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

1210 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
41 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More dots on screen
1620k vs 922k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
61 vs 11
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
14.0 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
14.1 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 51200 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
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

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-S2 User Reviews

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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

Excellent image quality, especially from RAWs; Fantastic high ISO performance; Fast autofocus with great tracking performance; 14fps burst rate; Amazing buffer capacity; 4K 60p video; Robust build quality.
Very heavy, bulky and expensive; Dual memory card slots use different formats; 29:59 continuous video recording limit; Touchscreen feels underutilized.
Read our Canon 1DX Mark II Review

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 1DX Mark II

Pentax K-500

$2999
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$597
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-500

Compared to Nikon D4S

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D4S

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$5999
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D4S

$2999
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D4S

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 1DX Mark II

Pentax K-S1

$2999
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D5500

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$797
APS-C

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D5500

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5500

$2999
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Nikon D5

Pentax K-S2

Nikon D5

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$4943
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

$2999
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Built-in GPS

$4943
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5

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