Panasonic ZR3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Here is a thorough overview of the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZR3 was manufactured 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 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 brief overview of how the ZR3 matches up against the ist DS2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 and Pentax ist DS2. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery and Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR3 has got physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZR3 and Pentax ist DS2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the ZR3 and the ist DS2.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZR3 and ist DS2 is 94 and 68 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The visual here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR3 and ist DS2.

All in all, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZR3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic ZR3 will show extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent ZR3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.