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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS50
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 ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the ZS45 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS45 was released 9 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS45 being a 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 summary of how the ZS45 scores versus the ist DL2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax ist DL2

 ZS45 ist DL2 
RevealedJanuary 2015January 2006Fresher by 109 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k210kCrisper screen (+830k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Panasonic ZS45

 ist DL2 ZS45 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax ist DL2

 ZS45 ist DL2 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS45 features outer dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the ZS45 against the ist DL2.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and ist DL2 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and ist DL2.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS45 because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic ZS45 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher ZS45 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography highlights
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
51
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
56
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
good battery power (350 CIPA)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography features
71
good battery power (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography highlights
48
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
good battery power (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging details
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging details
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
22
lighter than competition in class (565g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
missing mic port
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax ist DL2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax ist DL2
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-01-06 2006-01-27
Body design 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 area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 21 5
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format MPEG-4 -
Mic 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 249g (0.55 lb) 565g (1.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 -