Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax ist DS2

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic LZ20 vs Pentax ist DS2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the LZ20 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the LZ20 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The LZ20 was launched 7 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the LZ20 grades against the ist DS2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 and Pentax ist DS2. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic LZ20 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic LZ20 features outside measurements of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications 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 LZ20 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the LZ20 compared to the ist DS2.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the LZ20 and ist DS2 is 71 and 68 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The image below should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the LZ20 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The LZ20 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic LZ20 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more modern LZ20 should have an edge in sensor innovation.