Panasonic FH2 vs Pentax ist DS2

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FH2 versus Pentax ist DS2, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FH2 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FH2 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FH2 was unveiled 5 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the FH2 matches up vs the ist DS2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 & Pentax ist DS2. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FH2 Gallery & Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH2 comes with outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while 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).

See the Panasonic FH2 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FH2 compared to the ist DS2.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH2 and ist DS2 is 96 and 68 respectively.

Normally, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FH2 and ist DS2.

As you can see, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH2 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FH2 will produce greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent FH2 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.