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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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
  • Revealed August 2005
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was announced 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZS5 scores against the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax ist DS2

 ZS5 ist DS2 
RevealedJune 2010August 2005More recent by 59 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kClearer display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Panasonic ZS5

 ist DS2 ZS5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax ist DS2

 ZS5 ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS5 has outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS5 against the ist DS2.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and ist DS2 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS5 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS5 will give more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher ZS5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography info
27
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (605g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography advice
31
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competitors (214g)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
52
lighter than others in class (605g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (6MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography advice
33
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
22
lighter than others in class (605g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low ( pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax ist DS2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax ist DS2
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-06-16 2005-08-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD 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 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214g (0.47 pounds) 605g (1.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 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 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
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $300 -