Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax ist DS2

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic SZ10 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 among the resolutions of the SZ10 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SZ10 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The SZ10 was announced 9 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SZ10 matches up vs the ist DS2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 and Pentax ist DS2. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ10 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ10 features exterior measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax ist DS2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ10 compared to the ist DS2.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ10 and ist DS2 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Normally, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The photograph here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ10 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ10 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic SZ10 will render extra detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The younger SZ10 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.