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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed November 2008
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX5
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 LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LX3 was revealed 3 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the LX3 grades against the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax ist DS2

 LX3 ist DS2 
IntroducedNovember 2008August 2005More recent by 39 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kCrisper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic LX3

 ist DS2 LX3 

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax ist DS2

 LX3 ist DS2 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX3 features outer measurements of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the LX3 versus the ist DS2.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX3 and ist DS2 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the LX3 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX3 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic LX3 will show extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern LX3 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
40
focusing manually
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (265g)
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LX3
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
27
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
has no phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
60
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (265g)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low resolution (6MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography information
52
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
no Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (6MP)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LX3
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
30
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (265 grams)
22
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax ist DS2
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-11-04 2005-08-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 44.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-2.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 460k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 605 grams (1.33 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 39 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 94 not tested
Other
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $449 -