Make it small, add weather proof , good resolution and flip out screen. Great features for entry level camera. The included lens is reasonably sharp with a nice nesting function but other Pentax lenses are more hardy. I use a K3 and this is my backup.

Compact; Easy to Use; Great Picture Quality; Lightweight

The new Pentax K-S2 sports an impressive specification. It also re-introduces a conventional mode dial, has a new standard zoom and, a first for a Pentax DSLR, a fold out articulated screen.

Superb ergonomic design; Fold out screen; Glass pentaprism finder; Weather resistance; Value for money; High image quality; Built in Wi-Fi and NFC; New compact retractable lens

No top screen; Plastic outer shell rather than magnesium alloy; Lower frame rates than K-3

You would probably expect the new Pentax K-S2 to be a straightforward follow on from the K-S1. While it has the same sensor - a 20 million pixel CMOS device with no anti-aliasing filter - a lot of the outward design of the camera has changed it to make it more appealing to enthusiasts.

Ricoh/Pentax introduced its new K-S2 relatively quickly after the K-S1 came out. However, despite the similarities in name, it's not a replacement for the K-S1 – instead, it sits slightly above it in Pentax's range.

Small size; 100% Viewfinder; Wi-Fi and NFC

Purple fringing evident sometimes; Underexposes a little; No touchscreen

Ricoh/Pentax introduced its new K-S2 relatively quickly after the K-S1 came out. However, despite the similarities in name, it's not a replacement for the K-S1 – instead, it sits slightly above it in Pentax's range.

Ricoh has been plugging away in the consumer dSLR space, even using flashing lights and a cornucopia of colors to attract first-time and family buyers to its Pentax models, away from more staid Nikons and Canons.

The Pentax K-S2 offers excellent photo quality; a solid weather-sealed build; a big viewfinder and a broad feature set

Its video quality is middling to poor

Not going to make this long, have not tried everything but most and liked them all. I upgraded from a K20, which I know it's weaknesses but loved it's handling. The build quality of the S2 is good, dials feel solid but easy to move. The mode dial is metal and turns easily.

SR fast start; Low noise; AF fast and accurate

Make sure it fits your hands

Who it's for: Entry-level or enthusiast photographers who want an all-around camera - especially for the outdoors - and don't care about video. Following close on the heels of Nikon's D5500, the 20-megapixel Pentax K-S2 ($800 with 18-50mm kit lens) fits neatly into the same class of midrange DSLRs...

Weather-sealed body and kit lens; In-camera image stabilization; Large viewfinder with 100 percent field of view; Vari-angle (swiveling) LCD; Dual command dials

Plasticky feel; poor video quality

The K-S2 is Pentax's latest mid-range DSLR, continuing its tradition of offering affordable yet well-specified cameras. Find out how it gets on in our Pentax K-S2 review.

Wide range of physical controls; Comprehensive in-body image stabilisation; Generous viewfinder

Lacking a touchscreen; JPEG image quality not great; Handgrip on the large side

As a result, the K-S2 is up against some fairly stiff competition – the Nikon D5500 and Canon 750D on the DSLR side of things, while the Olympus E-M10 and Sony A6000 are also sure to share similar space on stockist's shelves. So, how does Ricoh plan on making the K-S2 competitive?