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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Announced January 2012
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced August 2005
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The VR-340 was introduced 6 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the VR-340 scores versus the ist DS2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Pentax ist DS2

 VR-340 ist DS2 
IntroducedJanuary 2012August 2005Fresher by 78 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kClearer display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus VR-340

 ist DS2 VR-340 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax ist DS2

 VR-340 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 features exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the VR-340 versus the ist DS2.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-340 and ist DS2 is 96 and 68 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-340 and ist DS2.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VR-340 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus VR-340 will show greater detail using its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer VR-340 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography information
34
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
50
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (125 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (605g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography details
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others (125 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography factors
43
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
46
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than others (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
22
lighter than competitors (605g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus VR-340Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VR-340 Pentax ist DS2
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-01-10 2005-08-22
Physical type 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 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125g (0.28 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Physical 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 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 ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $130 -