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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed February 2011
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced January 2006
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-10 was unveiled 5 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ-10 matches up versus the ist DL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax ist DL2

 SZ-10 ist DL2 
IntroducedFebruary 2011January 2006Fresher by 62 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kSharper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus SZ-10

 ist DL2 SZ-10 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax ist DL2

 SZ-10 ist DL2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-10 provides exterior measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-10 against the ist DL2.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and ist DL2 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-10 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-10 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SZ-10 will produce more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer SZ-10 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography details
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
supports face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
50
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (215 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography advice
40
excellent zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition (215g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
52
lighter than competition (565 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (6MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
40
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging information
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging information
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competition (215 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
22
lighter than competition (565g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low ( pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-10 Pentax ist DL2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-08 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 5
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/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 215 gr (0.47 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Price at release $300 -