Pentax W80 vs Pentax ist DL2

Below, we are contrasting the Pentax W80 and Pentax ist DL2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are offered by Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the W80 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the W80 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The W80 was released 3 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the W80 matches up against the ist DL2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio W80 and Pentax ist DL2. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax W80 Gallery and Pentax ist DL2 Gallery.

If you're going to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax W80 enjoys outside measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 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).

Check the Pentax W80 and Pentax ist DL2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the W80 versus the ist DL2.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the W80 and ist DL2 is 94 and 69 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the W80 and ist DL2.

To sum up, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The W80 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax W80 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The younger W80 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.