Clicky

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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
  • Launched January 2006
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Pentax RS1500 versus Pentax ist DL2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both designed by Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the RS1500 (14MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the RS1500 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The RS1500 was revealed 5 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the RS1500 matches up against the ist DL2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Pentax ist DL2

 RS1500 ist DL2 
LaunchedMarch 2011January 2006More modern by 63 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax RS1500

 ist DL2 RS1500 

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Pentax ist DL2

 RS1500 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax RS1500 has physical measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax RS1500 versus Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the RS1500 and the ist DL2.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the RS1500 and ist DL2 is 93 and 69 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the RS1500 and ist DL2.

Clearly, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The RS1500 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax RS1500 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern RS1500 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography highlights
35
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
50
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (6MP)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography advice
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (565g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography info
37
megapixel count good (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography factors
67
weather sealing
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than average in class (565g)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Landscape photography camera
40
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
25
quite wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
22
lighter than average in class (565 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( resolution)
does not have mic port
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Pentax RS1500 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax Optio RS1500Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio RS1500 Pentax ist DL2
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-03-16 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 5
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 grams (0.35 pounds) 565 grams (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 260 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $150 -