Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic ZS60

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Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic ZS60

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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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
18.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 720.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic ZS60 Review.

Succeeded by the Panasonic ZS70
Compare ZS60 vs ZS70
Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Panasonic ZS70

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Panasonic ZS60

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.29 vs 1.26 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 320 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic ZS60 advantages over Pentax K-S2

Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
38 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
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)
Bigger JPEG buffer
60 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.6 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
14 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/6000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

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
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

User reviews

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Read K-S2 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read ZS60 User Reviews

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Body Only (White)
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Buy the Panasonic ZS60

Panasonic ZS60 (Black)

Panasonic ZS60 (Black)
Panasonic ZS60 (Silver)

All ZS60 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 Panasonic ZS60.
Read our Panasonic ZS60 Initial Test

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

Panasonic ZS60

Pentax K-500

$448
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS60 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

Panasonic ZS60

Pentax K-S1

$448
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS60 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

Panasonic ZS60

Nikon D5500

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic ZS60 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Nikon A900

Pentax K-S2

Nikon A900

$499
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Nikon A900

Panasonic ZS60

Nikon A900

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Slower slow-motion

$397
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
NFC

Compare Panasonic ZS60 vs Nikon A900

Compared to Canon SX730 HS

Pentax K-S2

Canon SX730 HS

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$399
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Bluetooth
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Canon SX730 HS

Panasonic ZS60

Canon SX730 HS

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$399
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
NFC

Compare Panasonic ZS60 vs Canon SX730 HS

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