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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Announced February 2018
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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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GX9 versus Pentax ist DS2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The GX9 was released 12 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GX9 matches up against the ist DS2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax ist DS2

 GX9 ist DS2 
IntroducedFebruary 2018August 2005Fresher by 152 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1240k210kSharper display (+1030k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic GX9

 ist DS2 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax ist DS2

 GX9 ist DS2 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 offers outer dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GX9 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the GX9 and the ist DS2.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX9 and ist DS2 is 82 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX9 and ist DS2.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GX9 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic GX9 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more recent GX9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX9
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
76
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
72
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
low battery power (260 CIPA)
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography features
71
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
52
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography information
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (260 per charge)
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging factors
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging factors
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
22
lighter than average in class (605g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax ist DS2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2018-02-13 2005-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 1,240k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 2,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 -
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407g (0.90 lbs) 605g (1.33 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $1,000 -