Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax ist DS2

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the FP2 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FP2 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The FP2 was manufactured 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the FP2 matches up versus the ist DS2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 and Pentax ist DS2. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FP2 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP2 enjoys external measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has measurements 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 FP2 and Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FP2 against the ist DS2.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FP2 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The photograph here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FP2 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FP2 due to its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic FP2 will resolve more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern FP2 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.