Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax ist DS2

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-340 & Pentax ist DS2. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus VR-340 Gallery & Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.