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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced March 2011
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
  • Released August 2005
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 5 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the ist DS2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax ist DS2

 SZ-30MR ist DS2 
ReleasedMarch 2011August 2005More modern by 68 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 ist DS2 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax ist DS2

 SZ-30MR ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-30MR and the ist DS2.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and ist DS2 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specifications. The pic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and ist DS2.

Plainly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-30MR will deliver greater detail using its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography info
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
50
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (605g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography features
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (220 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than others (605g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (6 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography info
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery life (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
46
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging info
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging info
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
22
lighter than others (605g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution ( pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax ist DS2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-03-02 2005-08-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format MPEG-4 -
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 226g (0.50 lbs) 605g (1.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $279 -