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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2012
  • New Model is Panasonic GX7
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
  • Launched August 2005
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax ist DS2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the GX1 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the GX1 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX1 was announced 6 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the GX1 matches up versus the ist DS2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax ist DS2

 GX1 ist DS2 
LaunchedFebruary 2012August 2005More modern by 79 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kClearer screen (+250k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic GX1

 ist DS2 GX1 

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax ist DS2

 GX1 ist DS2 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX1 features outer dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the GX1 and the ist DS2.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and ist DS2 is 87 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX1 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GX1 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic GX1 will show more detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer GX1 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX1
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
47
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
65
provides touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than others in class (605g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX1
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DS2
62
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging info
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging info
32
touch screen
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
22
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video ( resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax ist DS2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-02-14 2005-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
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
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318g (0.70 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 703 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $228 -