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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G3
  • Successor is Panasonic G6
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
  • Announced August 2005
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Panasonic G5 and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the G5 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the G5 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was unveiled 7 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the G5 grades versus the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Pentax ist DS2

 G5 ist DS2 
AnnouncedJuly 2012August 2005More recent by 85 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k210kCrisper screen (+710k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic G5

 ist DS2 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Pentax ist DS2

 G5 ist DS2 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G5 offers exterior measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") and a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic G5 and Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the G5 and the ist DS2.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and ist DS2 is 74 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The visual here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the G5 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G5 having a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic G5 will resolve greater detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher G5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
50
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic G5
Street photography with Pentax ist DS2
66
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (396 grams)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G5
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
51
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography features
66
offers focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (396 grams)
52
lighter than competition (605 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
46
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging highlights
62
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition (396g)
22
lighter than competition (605g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Pentax ist DS2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-07-17 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 920k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396g (0.87 pounds) 605g (1.33 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $699 -