Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax ist DS2

Following is a thorough overview of the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax ist DS2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-820UZ was revealed 7 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SP-820UZ scores against the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ and Pentax ist DS2. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-820UZ Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-820UZ features outside measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax ist DS2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-820UZ against the ist DS2.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-820UZ and ist DS2 is 69 and 68 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-820UZ and ist DS2.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SP-820UZ having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus SP-820UZ will produce extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SP-820UZ is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.