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Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
68
Imaging
35
Features
45
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ47
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 498g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ48
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced August 2005
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Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Panasonic FZ47 and Pentax ist DS2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FZ47 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the FZ47 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The FZ47 was announced 5 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the FZ47 scores versus the ist DS2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ47 over the Pentax ist DS2

 FZ47 ist DS2 
IntroducedJuly 2011August 2005More modern by 72 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kSharper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic FZ47

 ist DS2 FZ47 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ47 and Pentax ist DS2

 FZ47 ist DS2 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ47 has outer measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ47 and Pentax ist DS2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the FZ47 against the ist DS2.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ47 and ist DS2 is 68 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The picture here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ47 and ist DS2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FZ47 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic FZ47 will produce extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern FZ47 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ47
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
38
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect focus
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Street photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography information
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (498g)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (605 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
good battery power (400 shots)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
51
good battery power (400 CIPA)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (498g)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
52
lighter than competitors in class (605g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
43
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good battery power (400 per charge)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Vlogging highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging highlights
27
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (498 grams)
22
lighter than competitors in class (605g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ47 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ47 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 Pentax ist DS2
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FZ48 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-21 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format AVCHD -
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 498 gr (1.10 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
Physical 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 All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 400 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $379 -