• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 42.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Sony A7R II

  • 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
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 1.5 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 410 vs 340 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.21 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

Sony A7R II advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 230k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    42.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    23 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 51200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Both provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • 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

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

  • Superb image quality; Very high resolution; Surprisingly good high ISO performance; Fast autofocus; Compact, comfortable body with lots of customization potential; Bright, roomy and clear viewfinder; Tilting LCD display; Five-axis stabilization; Intuitive Wi-Fi / NFC connectivity

  • Movie button is poorly located; No touch screen; Not as fast to start up or shoot photos as a similarly-priced SLR; Rather slow buffer clearing; No built-in flash; Single card slot; Not weather-sealed to the same degree as some rivals

  • Read our Sony A7R 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

Sony A7R II
Pentax K-500
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A7R II 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

Sony A7R II
Pentax K-S1
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A7R II 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

Sony A7R II
Nikon D5500
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A7R II vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Sony A9

Pentax K-S2
Sony A9
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony A9

Sony A7R II
Sony A9
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A9

Compared to Sony A7R III

Pentax K-S2
Sony A7R III
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II
Sony A7R III
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $2151
  • 35mm
  • Touchscreen
  • High resolution composite

Compare Sony A7R II vs Sony A7R III

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