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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
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
  • Released January 2006
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DL2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The SH-2 was announced 9 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SH-2 matches up vs the ist DL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax ist DL2

 SH-2 ist DL2 
ReleasedMarch 2015January 2006More modern by 111 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kClearer display (+250k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus SH-2

 ist DL2 SH-2 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DL2

 SH-2 ist DL2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-2 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-2 compared to the ist DL2.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and ist DL2 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing technical specs. The image below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-2 and ist DL2.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus SH-2 will produce extra detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer SH-2 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
44
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography highlights
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
offers focus via touch
lighter than average in class (271g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (565g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Pentax ist DL2
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography details
74
better than average battery (380 shots)
lighter than average in class (271g)
offers focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography features
55
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
22
lighter than others in class (565g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video ( resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax ist DL2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2015-03-11 2006-01-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-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 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
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 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 5
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) -
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format H.264 -
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 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery life 380 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $399 -