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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Alternate Name is mju 550WP
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
Photography Glossary

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus 550WP versus Pentax ist DL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the 550WP (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The 550WP was launched 2 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 550WP grades against the ist DL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Pentax ist DL2

 550WP ist DL2 
RevealedJanuary 2009January 2006More recent by 36 months
Screen resolution230k210kSharper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus 550WP

 ist DL2 550WP 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Pentax ist DL2

 550WP ist DL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.5"2.5"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus 550WP offers external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus 550WP versus Pentax ist DL2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the 550WP versus the ist DL2.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and ist DL2 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 550WP and ist DL2.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 550WP featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus 550WP will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger 550WP provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography info
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors (565 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography info
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography factors
55
weather proof
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than competitors (565 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography advice
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
47
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus 550WP
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
22
lighter than competitors (565g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
missing mic jack
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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus 550WP Pentax ist DL2
Also referred to as mju 550WP -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-01-07 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 5
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.0 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 640x480 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 pounds) 565 grams (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 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 model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $399 -