• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 6400

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Fujifilm X-A3

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.37 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    9 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Fujifilm X-A3 advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • 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
  • Thinner
    40 mm vs 64 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    534g vs 859g
    Lighter weight
  • Higher-res screen
    346k vs 230k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 5.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/6000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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

  • 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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Buy the Pentax K-S2
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  • Body Only (White)
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  • Kit with 18-50mm WR Lens (Black/Orange)
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All K-S2 Deals

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Buy the Fujifilm X-A3
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Brown)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Pink)
All X-A3 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

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

Fujifilm X-A3
Pentax K-500
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Fujifilm X-A3 vs Pentax K-500

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

Fujifilm X-A3
Pentax K-S1
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Fujifilm X-A3 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

Fujifilm X-A3
Nikon D5500
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Fujifilm X-A3 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Canon EOS M6

Pentax K-S2
Canon EOS M6
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon EOS M6

Fujifilm X-A3
Canon EOS M6
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC

Compare Fujifilm X-A3 vs Canon EOS M6

Compared to Fujifilm X-A5

Pentax K-S2
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm X-A3
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Fujifilm X-A3 vs Fujifilm X-A5

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