Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax ist DL2

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the FZ70 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the FZ70 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The FZ70 was manufactured 7 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FZ70 matches up versus the ist DL2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 and Pentax ist DL2. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ70 Gallery and Pentax ist DL2 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ70 has outside dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FZ70 and the ist DL2.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ70 and ist DL2 is 63 and 69 respectively.

Often, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ70 and ist DL2.

Clearly, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FZ70 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic FZ70 will resolve more detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher FZ70 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.