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Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90

Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71
Pentax K-S2 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the K-S2 (20MP) and W90 (12MP) and the K-S2 (APS-C) and W90 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The K-S2 was manufactured 5 years after the W90 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the K-S2 matches up versus the W90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Pentax W90

 K-S2 W90 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2010More modern by 61 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Pentax K-S2

 W90 K-S2 

Common features in the Pentax K-S2 and Pentax W90

 K-S2 W90 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-S2 provides outside measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has sizing of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the K-S2 vs the W90.

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-S2 and W90 is 64 and 94 respectively.

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-S2 and W90.

As you can see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-S2 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-S2 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern K-S2 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-S2
Portrait photography with Pentax W90
78
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-S2
Street photography with Pentax W90
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competitors (678 grams)
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
low battery (410 per charge)
24
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-S2 Travel photography advice
Pentax W90 Travel photography advice
65
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
low battery (410 per charge)
heavier than competitors (678g)
64
weather sealing
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax W90 Landscape photography highlights
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proof
low battery (410 shots)
37
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-S2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax W90 as a Vlogging camera
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
heavier than competitors (678g)
25
decently wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Pentax K-S2 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-S2 and Pentax W90
 Pentax K-S2Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-S2 Pentax Optio W90
Type Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Announced 2015-02-10 2010-02-24
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME MII Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/6000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 5.4 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 678g (1.49 lbs) 164g (0.36 lbs)
Dimensions 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 410 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI109 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $581 $120