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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Launched January 2011
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
  • Launched August 2005
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax ist DS2, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the FP5 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FP5 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The FP5 was unveiled 5 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the FP5 matches up versus the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Pentax ist DS2

 FP5 ist DS2 
LaunchedJanuary 2011August 2005More recent by 66 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic FP5

 ist DS2 FP5 
Manually focus More exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic FP5 and Pentax ist DS2

 FP5 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP5 features exterior measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP5 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the FP5 versus the ist DS2.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FP5 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FP5 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FP5 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic FP5 will give more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher FP5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography advice
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
50
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average (605 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Sports photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography features
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery life (260 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Travel photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography information
65
good battery life (260 CIPA)
boasts touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than average (605g)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography features
40
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good battery life (260 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP5 Vlogging factors
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging factors
30
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
22
lighter than average (605 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic FP5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP5 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 Pentax ist DS2
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-01-05 2005-08-22
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Touch Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141g (0.31 lbs) 605g (1.33 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $199 -