Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax P80

Below, we are matching up the Pentax K-S2 and Pentax P80, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the K-S2 (20MP) and P80 (12MP) and the K-S2 (APS-C) and P80 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The K-S2 was unveiled 5 years after the P80 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the K-S2 scores versus the P80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax K-S2 and Pentax Optio P80. The full galleries are provided at Pentax K-S2 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-S2 features outside measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Pentax K-S2 and Pentax P80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the K-S2 and the P80.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-S2 and P80 is 64 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-S2 and P80.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The K-S2 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-S2 will offer you extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The newer K-S2 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.