Pentax K-S2 Review

Introduction

The Pentax K-S2 is a powerful mid-range Pentax DSLR that made its debut in the final weeks of February, 2015. It sets a number of firsts for Pentax, as no other K-mount body before it featured built-in Wi-Fi or an articulating LCD screen. In addition, the K-S2 can be bundled with a redesigned 18-50mm kit lens featuring a retractable barrel, weather sealing, and silent autofocus. Noisy autofocus is thus going to be a thing of the past, even in Pentax's most affordable zoom lens.

Many may view the K-S2 as a successor to the Pentax K-S1, an entry-level DSLR from late 2014 originally meant to appeal the tech-savvy and design-conscious audiences. However, the K-S1 concept did not end up being a commercial success, and thus the K-S2 represents a quick return to a much more traditional DSLR. While it still has some fancy decorative elements such as an LED light around the on/off switch, the K-S2 is essentially meant to be the successor to the Pentax K-50, the previous mid-range DSLR. Unlike the K-S1 but in common with the K-50, the K-S2 is fully weather sealed and sports dual control wheels for convenient access to key camera settings.

Pentax K-S2 with 18-50mm kit lens extended and LCD screen flipped forward

The K-S2 does inherit some technology from the K-S1, including the latest filterless 20.2-megapixel sensor and a facelifted menu system that looks more modern than the classic Pentax design. It also incorporates a number of new software features, which when combined with the nicer menu system and a few interface tweaks, makes for an exceptionally user-friendly camera.

Plenty of other enhancements new to the K-S2 allow users to take their photography (and videography) to the next level without having to reach for a flagship DSLR. Read on to see how the Pentax K-S2 fared in our tests!