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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Pentax K-01 and Pentax ist DL2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the K-01 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The K-01 was announced 6 years after the ist DL2 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the K-01 matches up versus the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Pentax ist DL2

 K-01 ist DL2 
RevealedMay 2012January 2006More modern by 78 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k210kClearer display (+711k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax K-01

 ist DL2 K-01 

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Pentax ist DL2

 K-01 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax K-01 enjoys outside measurements of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") along with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-01 and Pentax ist DL2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the K-01 against the ist DL2.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the K-01 and ist DL2 is 76 and 69 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through specifications. The picture here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the K-01 and ist DL2.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax K-01 to give you greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern K-01 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography factors
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
51
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-01
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
more heavy than average in class (561 grams)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (565g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (540 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography advice
65
good battery power (540 shots)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than average in class (561 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 per charge)
47
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-01
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than average in class (561g)
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video ( pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax K-01Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-01 Pentax ist DL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-05-30 2006-01-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 5
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 561 gr (1.24 lbs) 565 gr (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 65
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 11.1
DXO Low light rating 1135 639
Other
Battery life 540 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $899 -