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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ40 was released 4 years after the ist DL2 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FZ40 matches up versus the ist DL2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax ist DL2

 FZ40 ist DL2 
AnnouncedJuly 2010January 2006Newer by 55 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k210kClearer display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic FZ40

 ist DL2 FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax ist DL2

 FZ40 ist DL2 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 features outside dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the FZ40 versus the ist DL2.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and ist DL2 is 68 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking technical specs. The pic here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FZ40 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic FZ40 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The newer FZ40 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography advice
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
54
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
52
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography features
51
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
23
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
22
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video ( pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax ist DL2
Also called as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-07-21 2006-01-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II -
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
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 5
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video data format AVCHD Lite -
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 pounds) 565g (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $420 -