Pentax E85 vs Pentax ist DS2

Here, we will be analyzing the Pentax E85 and Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both offered by Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E85 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E85 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The E85 was released 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax E85 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E85 matches up against the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio E85 & Pentax ist DS2. The complete galleries are available at Pentax E85 Gallery & Pentax ist DS2 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax E85 features exterior measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check out the Pentax E85 and Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E85 vs the ist DS2.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E85 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The visual below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E85 and ist DS2.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E85 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax E85 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher E85 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.