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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Announced March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
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
  • Announced August 2005
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus SH-2 versus Pentax ist DS2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was announced 9 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SH-2 scores versus the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax ist DS2

 SH-2 ist DS2 
AnnouncedMarch 2015August 2005Newer by 117 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kSharper screen (+250k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus SH-2

 ist DS2 SH-2 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DS2

 SH-2 ist DS2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-2 has got outer dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-2 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SH-2 against the ist DS2.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and ist DS2 is 88 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The picture below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and ist DS2.

All in all, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SH-2 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SH-2 will give you greater detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography factors
44
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
50
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (271g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (605g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking focus
great battery (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography details
74
great battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than average in class (605g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography info
55
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
great battery (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
46
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
22
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video ( resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax ist DS2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-03-11 2005-08-22
Body design 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) -
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
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 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $399 -