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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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 SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SZ8 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ8 was released 8 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ8 scores versus the ist DS2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax ist DS2

 SZ8 ist DS2 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2005Fresher by 102 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kClearer display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic SZ8

 ist DS2 SZ8 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax ist DS2

 SZ8 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ8 comes with outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax ist DS2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ8 vs the ist DS2.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and ist DS2 is 94 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and ist DS2.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ8 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher SZ8 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography info
35
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography information
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
67
lighter than others in class (159g)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
52
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography details
42
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
46
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging factors
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging factors
32
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
22
lighter than competitors (605g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great ( resolution)
no microphone port
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax ist DS2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-01-06 2005-08-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m -
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159 gr (0.35 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $275 -