Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax ist DL2

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax ist DL2, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the ZS100 (1") and ist DL2 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS100 was unveiled 10 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the ZS100 grades against the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and Pentax ist DL2. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS100 Gallery and Pentax ist DL2 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS100 enjoys exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the ZS100 versus the ist DL2.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS100 and ist DL2 is 87 and 69 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing technical specs. The image below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS100 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS100 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS100 will result in more detail having an extra 14MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher ZS100 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.