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

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Differences

Sony A7R advantages over Pentax K-S2

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 64 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 230k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.71x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    36.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    15 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-S2 advantages over Sony A7R

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 0.36 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs None
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.2 fps vs 4.0 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 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-S2

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Resolution that rivals a medium-format camera; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Decent performance bearing in mind its extremely high resolution; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Extreme resolution makes focus and lens quality critical; Modest performance; Loud shutter; Lacks hybrid autofocus of the A7; Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Slow X-sync; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

  • 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

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7R
Sony A7
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
Pentax K-S2
Sony A7
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Pentax K-500

Sony A7R
Pentax K-500
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Sony A7R
Pentax K-S1
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Pentax K-S2
Pentax K-S1
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen

Compared to Sony A7R II

Sony A7R
Sony A7R II
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
Pentax K-S2
Sony A7R II
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video

Compared to Canon EOS RP

Sony A7R
Canon EOS RP
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels
Pentax K-S2
Canon EOS RP
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
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