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Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Pentax Optio H90 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed August 2005
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Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are produced by Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the H90 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the H90 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The H90 was revealed 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the H90 grades versus the ist DS2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Pentax ist DS2

 H90 ist DS2 
RevealedJanuary 2010August 2005Fresher by 54 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kClearer screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Pentax H90

 ist DS2 H90 

Common features in the Pentax H90 and Pentax ist DS2

 H90 ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax H90 provides exterior dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the H90 compared to the ist DS2.

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the H90 and ist DS2 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through specs. The visual below might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the H90 and ist DS2.

All in all, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The H90 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax H90 will give you greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent H90 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax H90 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
50
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax H90 as a Street photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (605 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax H90 Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography factors
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax H90 Travel photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography information
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than competition (605g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low MP (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax H90 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography highlights
36
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax H90 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
22
lighter than competition (605 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( pixels)
missing microphone support
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Pentax H90 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax H90 and Pentax ist DS2
 Pentax Optio H90Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax Optio H90 Pentax ist DS2
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-01-25 2005-08-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 153g (0.34 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 D-LI68 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $150 -