Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DL2

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-1 and Pentax ist DL2, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-1 (5MP) and the ist DL2 (6MP) is very comparable but the E-1 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-1 was revealed 3 years before the ist DL2 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-1 grades against the ist DL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-1 and Pentax ist DL2. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Pentax ist DL2 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 provides outer measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 and Pentax ist DL2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-1 against the ist DL2.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and ist DL2 is 59 and 69 respectively.

Normally, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax ist DL2 will produce extra detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.