Its been a while since I have been sent a camera that stretches me a little. Providing the amount of stretching is a little I like it as it stops you getting into a rut that allows the camera to make all the choices without you having to think.
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The Pentax K-S2 DSLR measures 12x11x9cm and it weights 848grams (without neck strap attached). The second figure the width is achieved by the lens being locked in closed position which makes the 18 to 55mm lens smaller than it would otherwise appear, as unlocked (ready to shoot) it is at least 3cm bigger.
My unit was predominately white with grey covering the entry points and buttons and viewfinder being the normal black.
The right side has a flip cover over the SD card slot and a rubber cover over mini HDMI and USB connections. The left side has a rubber cover over the external microphone connection. The top of both sides has anchor points for the substantial neck strap fixing. The left side also has buttons for the built in pop up flash, RAW/Fx button and twist switch to change the lens from Auto to Manual focus.
The base has the solid battery bay and further along a tripod screw.
On the top is an external flash shoe fitting, the excellent built in flash pops up around this shoe. Next a twelve position wheel that covers all the possible settings but as always with a new camera you should start with Auto. Further towards the right edge is the Wi-Fi button a pair of other well marked buttons and in front of this the shutter release surrounded by a three position control off, on and video.
This leaves the back which has the 6.3x4.2cm display which can be left flat or flipped over through 270 degrees and even replaced back to front to protect the screen. To the right of the screen is the thumb anchor point which seems inadequate as it is tiny at 2x1cm but having a sloping edge means it is still functional. Below this the review button and lower still the ubiquitous five position joystick and two further buttons.
In use this unit drew a lot of comments mainly because of the colour bringing attention to it but several people who know about cameras liked the look and feel of it.
In use I was delighted with the images I took using flash even on occasions when you might have managed without using the flash to fill certain dull areas.
As always I start with Auto and only once I have taken a range of images in this mode do I then start to investigate what else it may have to offer using the manual settings as well as the 19 varied and excellent scene modes.
The Pentax website describes this as the smallest weather resistant SLR camera and I take their word for that.
The Pentax KS-2 is available (body only) from the link below for £549.99 with free delivery.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TF6TR7M?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634
The Pentax KS-2 with 18-50mm lens as I was sent is available from the link below for £649.99.
http://shop-uk.ricoh-imaging.eu/pentax-k-s2.html
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