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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 III
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched August 2005
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax ist DS2, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 II was released 11 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the E-M1 II matches up against the ist DS2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-M1 II ist DS2 
LaunchedSeptember 2016August 2005More recent by 135 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k210kClearer display (+827k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 ist DS2 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax ist DS2

 E-M1 II ist DS2 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 II provides physical measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 II vs the ist DS2.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 II and ist DS2 is 68 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 II and ist DS2.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 II featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus E-M1 II will show more detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The younger E-M1 II should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography info
76
manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
50
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
78
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (574g)
good high ISO (25,600)
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (605 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography highlights
75
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (350 per charge)
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
72
lighter than competitors in class (574g)
weather sealing
offers touch focus
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery (350 per charge)
52
lighter than competitors in class (605 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography details
76
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery (350 shots)
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
79
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
lighter than competitors in class (574g)
22
lighter than competitors in class (605 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great ( pxls)
does not have microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Pentax ist DS2
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 -
Video data format MOV, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1312 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLH-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/MMC card
Storage slots Two One
Launch pricing $1,700 -