Panasonic FX75 vs Pentax ist DS2

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic FX75 vs Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the FX75 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FX75 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FX75 was unveiled 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX75 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the FX75 grades against the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX75 & Pentax ist DS2. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic FX75 Gallery & Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX75 has got outer measurements of 103mm x 55mm x 23mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FX75 vs Pentax ist DS2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the FX75 and the ist DS2.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FX75 and ist DS2 is 94 and 68 respectively.

Normally, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The graphic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FX75 and ist DS2.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FX75 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FX75 will give greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher FX75 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.