Pentax K-S2

The K-S2 is a DSLR from 2015 built around a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor. It uses the Pentax KAF2 mount, so it draws on Pentax's SLR lens system rather than a mirrorless mount.

It weighs 678 grams, a manageable amount for a camera with a pentaprism viewfinder, and that optical viewfinder gives you a direct view while you compose.

Owning it points you outdoors. Weather sealing resists dust and moisture on rough days, and WiFi and Bluetooth are both built in for wireless connectivity.

The 20 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor pairs with the Prime MII processor. Sensitivity settings span ISO 100 to 51200, a broad selectable range from the base setting up to a high maximum.

Stabilisation sits in the body, and that is this camera's defining advantage. Because the stabilisation works in the camera rather than the lens, every KAF2 lens you mount benefits, including older lenses with no stabilisation of their own, helping with handheld work at slower shutter speeds. It counters camera shake, not subject movement.

Autofocus relies on 11 points in total. The maximum burst rate is 5.4 frames per second, and the top shutter speed is 1/6000 second for the shortest exposure times.

You frame through a pentaprism optical viewfinder, the classic DSLR experience. Live view on the rear screen is there as an alternative for tripod work and careful composition.

Video tops out at Full HD, so there is no 4K recording. Frame rates reach up to 60fps, which keeps motion natural and leaves room for slight slow-motion treatment in editing.

Recordings are saved as MPEG-4 or MOV files, and those are the two formats the camera uses for its video output.

The flip screen earns its keep when the camera is not at eye level. You can still see the frame while shooting low for a child's viewpoint or lifting the camera above a crowd.

A built-in timelapse function automates interval shooting without extra gear, useful for clouds moving across a sky, traffic patterns or light changing over a scene.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots, and the screen flips, so low and high-angle shooting stays practical. There is no touch layer, so every setting change goes through the camera's buttons and dials.

Wireless options include both WiFi and Bluetooth, so the camera carries two separate cable-free connection standards. GPS is also built in for location data, which sits alongside the two wireless options.

Weather sealing resists dust and moisture, so the camera copes with changeable conditions. The built-in flash covers casual indoor shots when you do not want to carry anything extra, and a separate flash unit can be fitted when you need more power.

The K-S2 takes a single memory card, an SD, SDHC or SDXC type with UHS-I support, so it can make use of fast cards. With only one slot there is no in-camera backup, so careful card handling has to be part of your routine.

The D-LI109 battery is rated at 410 shots. A rated count is not a promise of real-world endurance, which varies with settings and usage, so a charged spare is sensible for a full day out.

The camera does not charge its battery over USB, so topping up from a laptop is not an option. Charging spare batteries in advance becomes the practical routine before a shoot.