Pentax K-S2

154 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
performance (56)
usability (44)
portability (38)
screen (31)
size (22)

Negative
battery (8)
video (1)
storage (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 154 reviews of Pentax K-S2. The average rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. People really like the price and screen. The portability and usability also get good comments. Reviews are divided on the zoom. Some have doubts about the video and storage.

performance, usability, portability, screen, price

battery, storage, video

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Pentax K-S2 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 154 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(53% of reviews)
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Features

performance
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usability
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portability
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screen
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price
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Showing 1 - 50 of 68 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (85)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Pentax K-S2

alaTest has collected and analyzed 27 user reviews of Pentax K-S2 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. People are impressed by the shutter and price. The screen and performance are also mentioned favorably. Reviews are divided on the zoom. Many are negative about the battery.

portability, performance, screen, price, shutter

battery

89% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Pentax K-S2

alaTest has collected and analyzed 8 user reviews of Pentax K-S2 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Reviewers are impressed by the usability. The lens also gets good views. There are some mixed comments about the price.

lens, usability

88% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for Pentax K-S2

alaTest has collected and analyzed 5 user reviews of Pentax K-S2 from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca. People really like the screen and lens. The price and usability also get good comments, but reviews are divided on the portability.

performance, usability, price, lens, screen

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

Pentax K-S2

The Pentax K-S2 D-SLR packs a lot of features into its weather-sealed body, but its burst shooting capability is very limited and its companion Wi-Fi app needs some work.

Weather-sealed design. In-body image stabilization. Pentaprism viewfinder. Vari-angle LCD. Excellent high ISO image quality. Snappy autofocus system. Available in multiple colors. Dual control dials. Available with compact zoom lens.

Very limited shooting buffer. Lacks continuous focus in video mode. Companion app has issues. Video shows rolling shutter effect.

Performance and Conclusions The K-S2 is a responsive camera, but it's not the fastest model that the company has to offer. It starts and captures an in-focus image in about 1.3 seconds, focuses in about 0.07-second, and can capture short bursts of...

Jun, 2015

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Pentax K-S2 review: A solid first-dSLR option -- if you don't care about video

For folks looking to step up from a point-and-shoot, the Pentax K-S2 has a lot to offer. But decent movie quality is not on the list.

The Pentax K-S2 offers excellent photo quality, a solid weather-sealed build, a big viewfinder and a broad feature set.

Its video quality is middling to poor.

For the first-timer or family photographer, the Pentax K-S2 is a nice dSLR, but it drops the ball for video and you should pass on the new 18-50mm kit lens.

May, 2015

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Expert review by (cnet.com)

Pentax K-S2 Body Only, Black/Orange

Overall, the photos look excellent. JPEGs are clean up to ISO 800 -- ISO 1600 in good light. Beyond that, they get soft fast. Color is very good; bright and saturated yet still accurate in its default Bright setting. Auto white balance is generally...

The Pentax K-S2 offers excellent photo quality, a solid weather-sealed build, a big viewfinder and a broad feature set.

Its video quality is middling to poor.

For the first-timer or family photographer, the Pentax K-S2 is a nice dSLR, but it drops the ball for video and you should pass on the new 18-50mm kit lens.

May, 2015

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Expert review by : Michael Palmer (steves-digicams.com)

Pentax K-S2

Ricoh Imaging has announced the Pentax K-S2 DSLR. Even when paired with the new retractable standard zoom HD DA 18-55mm f/4-5.6 WR kit lens, this camera is one of the smallest entry-level DSLRs available on the market. The heart of the K-S2 system is a...

Feb, 2015

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Expert review by : Mark Peters (letsgodigital.org)

Pentax K-S2

Pentax K-S2 digital SLR camera : Building upon the legacy of developing durable SLR cameras, Ricoh Imaging is pleased to announce the launch of the Pentax K-S2 featuring a 20 megapixel, AA Filter-less CMOS sensor with Prime MII. The Pentax K-S2 camera...

As soon as we receive a test sample, we will put this D-SLR camera to the test and publish a Pentax KS2 review. Availability of colors and optional accessories may differ depending on the country. Please visit the Pentax website in your region for more...

Feb, 2015

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Expert review by : Amy Davies (photographyblog.com)

Pentax K-S2 Review

You would probably expect the new Pentax K-S2 to be a straightforward follow on from the K-S1. While it has the same sensor - a 20 million pixel CMOS device with no anti-aliasing filter - a lot of the outward design of the camera has changed it to make...

The Pentax KS-2 has a lot of good things on offer here. While most people are generally swayed towards Canon or Nikon when purchasing their first DSLR, unless you already have some lenses and/or accessories, it’s worth knowing about other options on...

Apr, 2015

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Expert review by : Mike Tomkins (imaging-resource.com)

Pentax K-S2 Review

Pentax is sometimes seen as a conservative brand, but the Pentax K-S2 changes all that with features never seen before in the company's DSLRs: A tilt/swivel screen, in-camera Wi-Fi and a retracting kit lens.

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

Jul, 2015

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Expert review by : Theano Nikitas (tomsguide.com)

Pentax K-S2 DSLR Review: All-Weather Companion

The K-S2's most notable feature is its weather-resistant body, which certainly places it a step ahead of the competition for photographers who like to shoot outdoors. It also offers innovative options such as ISO Sensitivity Priority mode. Overall, the...

Weather-sealed body and kit lens ; In-camera image stabilization ; Large viewfinder with 100 percent field of view ; Vari-angle (swiveling) LCD ; Dual command dials

Plasticky feel, poor video quality

The K-S2 offers several appealing features, including weatherproofing and sensor-shift image stabilization, but its video quality falls short.

May, 2015

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Expert review by : TrustedReviews (trustedreviews.com)

Pentax K-S2

The Pentax K-S2 is an entry-level DSLR with plenty to prove.

Great image quality, particularly for RAW ; Excellent viewfinder ; Handy OIS system

Fairly poor for video ; Non-touch screen

Aug, 2015

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Expert review by : Amy Davies (techradar.com)

Pentax K-S2 review

Pentax continues to nip at the heels of Canon and Nikon in the DSLR market, and the K-S2 has quite a bite

Small size ; 100% Viewfinder ; Wi-Fi and NFC

Purple fringing evident sometimes ; Underexposes a little ; No touchscreen

Pentax is pitching the K-S2 as a 'family' camera, but its powerful features, twin control dials and weatherproofing will appeal to enthusiasts too. The specs are like the K-S1's, but the design is much more grown-up.

Apr, 2015

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