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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Renewed by Panasonic LZ40
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released August 2005
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the LZ30 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the LZ30 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LZ30 was revealed 7 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the LZ30 matches up against the ist DS2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax ist DS2

 LZ30 ist DS2 
ReleasedJanuary 2013August 2005More recent by 90 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic LZ30

 ist DS2 LZ30 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax ist DS2

 LZ30 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ30 comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the LZ30 vs the ist DS2.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LZ30 and ist DS2 is 66 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reading specs. The photograph here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the LZ30 and ist DS2.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The LZ30 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic LZ30 will offer greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent LZ30 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography highlights
32
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Street photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
43
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (552 grams)
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography factors
47
amazing zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
good battery (380 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
56
good battery (380 CIPA)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than average in class (605g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography details
45
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery (380 per charge)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging info
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging info
22
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
22
lighter than average in class (605g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low ( resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax ist DS2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 552 gr (1.22 lb) 605 gr (1.33 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots -
Style of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $230 -