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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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
  • Launched January 2006
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The VR-340 was introduced 6 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the VR-340 scores versus the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Pentax ist DL2

 VR-340 ist DL2 
LaunchedJanuary 2012January 2006More recent by 73 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kSharper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus VR-340

 ist DL2 VR-340 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax ist DL2

 VR-340 ist DL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 comes with outside dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the VR-340 compared to the ist DL2.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-340 and ist DL2 is 96 and 69 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through specifications. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-340 and ist DL2.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VR-340 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus VR-340 will give greater detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern VR-340 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-340
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
51
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-340
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
63
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (125 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (565g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (125 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than competition (565g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Landscape photography camera
43
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging features
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging features
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
22
lighter than competition (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus VR-340Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VR-340 Pentax ist DL2
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-01-10 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti alias 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 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 5
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.80 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 pounds) 565 grams (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Price at release $130 -