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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Launched August 2005
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was revealed 9 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL7 grades versus the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL7 ist DS2 
LaunchedSeptember 2014August 2005Fresher by 110 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k210kSharper screen (+827k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-PL7

 ist DS2 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL7 ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL7 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst 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).

Check the Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL7 and the ist DS2.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and ist DS2 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL7 and ist DS2.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PL7 will resolve more detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer E-PL7 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
50
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography details
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
85
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
52
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
46
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging info
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging info
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
22
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Pentax ist DS2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-09-01 2005-08-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $499 -