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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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
  • Released January 2006
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax ist DL2, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are sold by Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and ist DL2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The MX-1 was revealed 7 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the MX-1 scores versus the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 MX-1 ist DL2 
ReleasedJuly 2013January 2006More modern by 91 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k210kCrisper display (+710k dot)

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

 ist DL2 MX-1 

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

 MX-1 ist DL2 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax MX-1 offers outer measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Look at the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax ist DL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the MX-1 vs the ist DL2.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and ist DL2 is 84 and 69 respectively.

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

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the MX-1 and ist DL2.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The MX-1 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax MX-1 will provide more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger MX-1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography advice
42
focusing manually
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (565g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography details
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography information
61
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (565 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
55
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging features
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging features
33
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
22
lighter than competition (565g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax MX-1Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax MX-1 Pentax ist DL2
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-07-01 2006-01-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 5
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 920k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 grams (0.86 pounds) 565 grams (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 65
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.1
DXO Low light score 208 639
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model D-Li-106 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 Single Single
Launch cost $400 -