• APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Sony A5000 advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 64 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    388g vs 859g
    Lighter weight
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Sony A5000

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • 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
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher-res screen
    230k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.30 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.2 fps vs 3.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.2 fps vs 2.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 16000 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
  • 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
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • 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
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)
All A5000 Deals

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

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 Samsung NX1100

Sony A5000
Samsung NX1100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5000 vs Samsung NX1100

Pentax K-S2
Samsung NX1100
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Pentax K-500

Sony A5000
Pentax K-500
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5000 vs 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

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony NEX-5T

Pentax K-S2
Sony NEX-5T
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony NEX-5T

Compared to Sony A5100

Sony A5000
Sony A5100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony A5100

Pentax K-S2
Sony A5100
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-S2 vs Sony A5100

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Sony A5000
Pentax K-S1
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5000 vs 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

Compare Other Cameras?