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Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30
Pentax Optio P80 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed August 2009
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched August 2005
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Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax P80 and Pentax ist DS2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both designed by Pentax. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the P80 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the P80 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The P80 was manufactured 4 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the P80 grades versus the ist DS2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Pentax ist DS2

 P80 ist DS2 
LaunchedAugust 2009August 2005More recent by 49 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Pentax P80

 ist DS2 P80 

Common features in the Pentax P80 and Pentax ist DS2

 P80 ist DS2 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax P80 has got exterior dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax P80 and Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the P80 compared to the ist DS2.

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the P80 and ist DS2 is 95 and 68 respectively.

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the P80 and ist DS2.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The P80 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax P80 will resolve more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The younger P80 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax P80 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
50
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax P80 Street photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography factors
55
lighter than others in class (125g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (605g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax P80 Sports photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography info
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax P80
Travel photography with Pentax ist DS2
62
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
52
lighter than competitors in class (605g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax P80 Landscape photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography info
32
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax P80 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (28mm)
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
22
lighter than competitors in class (605 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
no microphone support
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Pentax P80 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax P80 and Pentax ist DS2
 Pentax Optio P80Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio P80 Pentax ist DS2
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-08-05 2005-08-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.6-5.8 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m -
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125g (0.28 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI68 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $200 -