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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-3
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced August 2005
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax ist DS2, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-1 (5MP) and the ist DS2 (6MP) is pretty well matched but the E-1 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-1 was revealed 21 months earlier than the ist DS2 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-1 grades against the ist DS2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-1 ist DS2 

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-1

 ist DS2 E-1 
IntroducedAugust 2005November 2003Newer by 21 months
Screen dimension2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution210k134kClearer screen (+76k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax ist DS2

 E-1 ist DS2 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 provides outside dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-1 versus the ist DS2.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and ist DS2 is 59 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The picture here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and ist DS2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax ist DS2 will give greater detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
46
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
50
focusing manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
MP count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography highlights
57
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (735 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (605g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (5MP)
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
47
lighter than competition in class (735 grams)
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (605 grams)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
small screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (6MP)
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
22
lighter than competition (605g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video ( pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus E-1Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-1 Pentax ist DS2
Type Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2003-11-29 2005-08-22
Physical type Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 2560 x 1920 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 134k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution None -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735g (1.62 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,700 -