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Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2018
  • Succeeded the Nikon D3400
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Older Model is Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon D3500 versus Pentax K-S2, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the D3500 (24MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3500 was manufactured 3 years later than the K-S2 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the D3500 scores vs the K-S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Pentax K-S2

 D3500 K-S2 
RevealedAugust 2018February 2015Fresher by 44 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Nikon D3500

 K-S2 D3500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Pentax K-S2

 D3500 K-S2 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kExact same screen resolution
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon D3500 comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D3500 versus Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the D3500 and the K-S2.

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D3500 and K-S2 is 72 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The photograph here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the D3500 and K-S2.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D3500 to produce greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher D3500 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3500
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S2
81
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
78
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
69
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others (365g)
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than average (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3500 Sports photography features
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography features
70
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (1,550 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3500
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
71
great battery life (1,550 shots)
lighter than others (365 grams)
connects via bluetooth
resolution is good (24MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
65
environment proof
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than average (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3500 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography information
75
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (1,550 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Vlogging camera
31
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (365g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
71
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
heavier than average (678 grams)
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Nikon D3500 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Pentax K-S2
 Nikon D3500Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D3500 Pentax K-S2
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-08-29 2015-02-10
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 365 gr (0.80 lb) 678 gr (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 1550 images 410 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14a D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $397 $581