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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Launched August 2005
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SZ7 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SZ7 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

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The SZ7 was revealed 6 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ7 grades against the ist DS2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax ist DS2

 SZ7 ist DS2 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2005More recent by 78 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic SZ7

 ist DS2 SZ7 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax ist DS2

 SZ7 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ7 provides external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ7 and the ist DS2.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ7 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The photograph here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ7 and ist DS2.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ7 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic SZ7 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ7 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ7
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
33
resolution is good (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
50
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
Street photography with Pentax ist DS2
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (605g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography advice
70
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
52
lighter than competition (605 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography information
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ7
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
35
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
22
lighter than competition (605 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low ( resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax ist DS2
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-01-09 2005-08-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 4cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 133 grams (0.29 lbs) 605 grams (1.33 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" 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 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 220 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $199 -