Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax ist DS2

Here is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax ist DS2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-P2 was introduced 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-P2 grades versus the ist DS2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P2 and Pentax ist DS2. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P2 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 provides outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-P2 against the ist DS2.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and ist DS2 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The photograph below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P2 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus E-P2 will render greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger E-P2 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.