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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax ist DL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ5 (14MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the SZ5 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ5 was manufactured 6 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SZ5 scores versus the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Pentax ist DL2

 SZ5 ist DL2 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2006More recent by 79 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic SZ5

 ist DL2 SZ5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax ist DL2

 SZ5 ist DL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ5 features outside measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ5 and the ist DL2.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ5 and ist DL2 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The visual here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ5 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ5 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic SZ5 will result in more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent SZ5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography highlights
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
51
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography advice
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
39
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography information
70
lighter than competition (136 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
lighter than average in class (565g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Landscape photography camera
42
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
22
lighter than average in class (565g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low ( resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Pentax ist DL2
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-07-18 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 5
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 136g (0.30 lb) 565g (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery life 250 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $195 -