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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S2 (14MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the S2 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The S2 was revealed 22 months before the K-50 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the S2 grades vs the K-50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Pentax K-50

 S2 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic S2

 K-50 S2 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-50

 S2 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic S2 enjoys external dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the S2 and the K-50.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S2 and K-50 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specifications. The photograph below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S2 and K-50.

Plainly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S2 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-50 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older S2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic S2
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic S2
Street photography with Pentax K-50
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (112g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than others in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S2 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Sports photography highlights
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S2
Travel photography with Pentax K-50
70
great battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (112g)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
56
weather proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (650g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Landscape photography camera
41
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
great battery power (280 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
32
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (112g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (650 grams)
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 Pentax K-50
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-09 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 112 gr (0.25 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 410 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $109 $610