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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax K-1 and Pentax ist DL2, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both are created by Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and ist DL2 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The K-1 was released 10 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the K-1 grades vs the ist DL2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Pentax ist DL2

 K-1 ist DL2 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2006More recent by 123 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k210kCrisper screen (+827k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax K-1

 ist DL2 K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Pentax ist DL2

 K-1 ist DL2 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax K-1 enjoys physical dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-1 and Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the K-1 versus the ist DL2.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the K-1 and ist DL2 is 55 and 69 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by researching technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-1 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-1 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Pentax K-1 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher K-1 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
85
focusing manually
megapixel count great (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
50
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography advice
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 Sports photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography information
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count great (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.4 frames/s)
low battery (760 CIPA)
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
53
environment sealing
megapixel count great (36MP)
low battery (760 CIPA)
more heavy than average (1,010g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography details
81
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count great (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
low battery (760 per charge)
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-1
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average (1,010g)
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
missing external microphone socket
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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax K-1Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Pentax ist DL2
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-02-17 2006-01-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 7360 x 4912 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 204800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 33 5
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.4fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010 gr (2.23 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 65
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 11.1
DXO Low light score 3280 639
Other
Battery life 760 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/MMC card
Card slots 2 Single
Launch pricing $1,499 -