Panasonic FH20 vs Pentax ist DS2

Here, we will be matching up the Panasonic FH20 vs Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FH20 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The FH20 was released 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the FH20 matches up vs the ist DS2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 and Pentax ist DS2. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FH20 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FH20 has got outside dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH20 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the FH20 against the ist DS2.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FH20 and ist DS2 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FH20 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FH20 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern FH20 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.