If you’d like to read our full verdict, head on over to our Pentax K-S2 review.

Traditionally the mid-range DSLR market has been dominated by two major manufacturers; namely Canon and Nikon.

The triple-digit EOS series and the D5xxx range have at times swept all the competition to the side thanks to their impressive features and a wide range of supported lenses, not to mention the familiarity which some photographers have with their brands before coming to DSLR photography.

This domination has been waning somewhat over the past few years however thanks to an upping in performance of the competition. To begin with the level of the enthusiast CSC market has improved dramatically, with models such as the Sony A6000 and Olympus E-M10 providing a very real alternative to those looking to purchase their first DSLR.

1/100 sec @ f/14, ISO 3200

Then there’s the enthusiast DSLRs from manufacturers outside the big two, a category in to which the new Pentax K-S2 certainly falls.

Amongst its mid-range features are an impressive 20.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor complete with an ISO range of 100-51,200, lacking in an anti-alias filter for improved detail capture.

The model also features one of the best image stabilisation systems on the market, providing 3.5 stops of exposure benefits as well as the added bonus of being compatible with almost all older lenses including wideangle and prime optics.

1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

Other key features include HD video capture, Wi-fi and NFC connectivity and in-camera Raw image processing.

All of that adds up to a comprehensive mid-range DSLR, but how exactly does it perform in the field? Well, you can take a look for yourself here in our Pentax K-S2 review sample image gallery.