Nikon Z5 vs Pentax K-S2

The Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2020 and February 2015. The Z5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-S2 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a full frame (Z5) and an APS-C (K-S2) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24.2 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon Z5		Pentax K-S2
Mirrorless system camera		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon Z mount lenses		Pentax K mount lenses
24.2 MP, Full Frame Sensor		20 MP, APS-C Sensor
4K/30p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 100-51,200
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		Optical viewfinder
3.2 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 921k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
4.5 shutter flaps per second		5.4 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
470 shots per battery charge		410 shots per battery charge
134 x 101 x 67 mm, 675 g		123 x 91 x 73 mm, 678 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The K-S2 can be obtained in six different colors (black, grey, pink, orange, green, white), while the Z5 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-S2 is notably smaller (17 percent) than the Nikon Z5. However, the K-S2 is slightly heavier (0 percent) than the Z5. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Z5 gets 470 shots out of its EN-EL15c battery, while the K-S2 can take 410 images on a single charge of its D-LI109 power pack. The power pack in the Z5 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon Z5	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	470	Y	Jul 2020	1,399
2.		Pentax K-S2	123 mm	91 mm	73 mm	678 g	410	Y	Feb 2015	749
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	1,699
4.		Nikon Z7 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	420	Y	Oct 2020	2,999
5.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
6.		Nikon Z6	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	310	Y	Aug 2018	1,999
7.		Nikon Z7	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	330	Y	Aug 2018	3,399
8.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
9.		Olympus E-M5 III	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2019	1,199
10.		Panasonic G9	137 mm	97 mm	92 mm	658 g	400	Y	Nov 2017	1,699
11.		Pentax KP	132 mm	101 mm	76 mm	703 g	390	Y	Jan 2017	1,099
12.		Pentax K-70	126 mm	93 mm	74 mm	688 g	410	Y	Jun 2016	649
13.		Pentax K-3 II	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	720	Y	Apr 2015	1,099
14.		Pentax K-S1	121 mm	93 mm	70 mm	558 g	410	n	Aug 2014	749
15.		Pentax K-3	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	560	Y	Oct 2013	1,299
16.		Sony A9 II	129 mm	96 mm	76 mm	678 g	690	Y	Oct 2019	4,499
17.		Sony A6600	120 mm	67 mm	69 mm	503 g	810	Y	Aug 2019	1,399
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The K-S2 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 46 percent) than the Z5, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon Z5 features a full frame sensor and the Pentax K-S2 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-S2 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 24.2MP, the Z5 offers a higher resolution than the K-S2 (20MP), but the Z5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.95μm versus 4.28μm for the K-S2) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the Z5 is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 5 months) than the K-S2, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the K-S2 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon Z5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the Z5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20.1 inches or 76.4 x 51 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16.1 inches or 61.1 x 40.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.1 x 13.4 inches or 50.9 x 34 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax K-S2 are 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Z5 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Nikon Z5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-S2 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon Z5	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Pentax K-S2	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
4.		Nikon Z7 II	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
5.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
6.		Nikon Z6	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	25.3	14.3	3299	95
7.		Nikon Z7	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.3	14.6	2668	99
8.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
9.		Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
10.		Panasonic G9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
11.		Pentax KP	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
12.		Pentax K-70	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
13.		Pentax K-3 II	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.6	13.6	1106	80
14.		Pentax K-S1	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.5	13.0	1061	78
15.		Pentax K-3	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.7	13.4	1216	80
16.		Sony A9 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.0	3434	93
17.		Sony A6600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.4	1497	82

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Z5 provides a higher video resolution than the K-S2. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Z5 has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), while the K-S2 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the Z5 has a higher magnification than the one of the K-S2 (0.80x vs 0.63x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon Z5 and Pentax K-S2 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon Z5	3690	n	3.2	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	4.5	n	Y
2.		Pentax K-S2	optical	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/6000s	5.4	Y	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0	n	Y
4.		Nikon Z7 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
5.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
6.		Nikon Z6	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
7.		Nikon Z7	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
8.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
9.		Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
10.		Panasonic G9	3680	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y
11.		Pentax KP	optical	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/6000s	7.0	Y	Y
12.		Pentax K-70	optical	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/6000s	6.0	Y	Y
13.		Pentax K-3 II	optical	Y	3.2	1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3	n	Y
14.		Pentax K-S1	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/6000s	5.4	Y	Y
15.		Pentax K-3	optical	Y	3.2	1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3	Y	Y
16.		Sony A9 II	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
17.		Sony A6600	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The Z5 has a touchscreen, while the K-S2 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the Z5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the Z5 and the K-S2 write their files to SDXC cards. The Z5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the K-S2 only has one slot. The Z5 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the K-S2 can use UHS-I cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z5 and Pentax K-S2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon Z5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Pentax K-S2	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Nikon Z7 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
5.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
6.		Nikon Z6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
7.		Nikon Z7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
8.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
10.		Panasonic G9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Pentax KP	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	-	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Pentax K-70	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Pentax K-3 II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
14.		Pentax K-S1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Pentax K-3	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony A9 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony A6600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	YES	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the Z5 has a headphone jack, which is not present on the K-S2 This port makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process.

Both the Z5 and the K-S2 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The K-S2 replaced the earlier Pentax K-S1, while the Z5 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Pentax websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon Z5:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24.2 vs 20MP) with a 10% higher linear resolution.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.80x vs 0.63x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/6000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (470 versus 410) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 5 months of technical progress since the K-S2 launch.

Advantages of the Pentax K-S2:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.4 vs 4.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (123x91mm vs 134x101mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (46 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2015).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Z5 is the clear winner of the match-up (24 : 10 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon Z5 and the Pentax K-S2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Z5 or the K-S2. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon Z5	4/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jul 2020	1,399
2.		Pentax K-S2	4.5/5	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	..	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	1,699
4.		Nikon Z7 II	4.5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	2,999
5.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
6.		Nikon Z6	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	1,999
7.		Nikon Z7	5/5	+	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	3,399
8.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
9.		Olympus E-M5 III	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	1,199
10.		Panasonic G9	..	+ +	85/100	5/5	5/5	Nov 2017	1,699
11.		Pentax KP	4/5	..	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	1,099
12.		Pentax K-70	4.5/5	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2016	649
13.		Pentax K-3 II	4.5/5	..	..	5/5	5/5	Apr 2015	1,099
14.		Pentax K-S1	4/5	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2014	749
15.		Pentax K-3	4/5	..	83/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	1,299
16.		Sony A9 II	..	..	90/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2019	4,499
17.		Sony A6600	4/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2019	1,399
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon Z5 vs Pentax K-S2

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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