Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax ist DS2, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The FP3 was unveiled 4 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the FP3 matches up versus the ist DS2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 and Pentax ist DS2. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FP3 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP3 comes with external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the FP3 against the ist DS2.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP3 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP3 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FP3 will resolve extra detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The younger FP3 provides an edge in sensor tech.