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Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
90
Imaging
53
Features
66
Overall
58
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF6
  • New Model is Panasonic GF8
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 GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic GF7 versus Pentax ist DS2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the GF7 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the GF7 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The GF7 was launched 9 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GF7 grades versus the ist DS2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Pentax ist DS2

 GF7 ist DS2 
IntroducedFebruary 2015August 2005More recent by 115 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k210kClearer screen (+830k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic GF7

 ist DS2 GF7 

Common features in the Panasonic GF7 and Pentax ist DS2

 GF7 ist DS2 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF7 features external measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF7 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the GF7 against the ist DS2.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GF7 and ist DS2 is 90 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at specs. The graphic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GF7 and ist DS2.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF7 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic GF7 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher GF7 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Portrait photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography information
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography highlights
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (605g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Sports photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography info
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000s)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
70
provides touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery life (230 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
52
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography information
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
46
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external mic support
22
lighter than competitors (605g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low ( pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF7 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 Pentax ist DS2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2015-02-01 2005-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/16000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266 grams (0.59 lbs) 605 grams (1.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 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 230 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $308 -