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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released February 2011
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
  • Introduced August 2005
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both built by Pentax. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the WG-1 (14MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the WG-1 (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The WG-1 was brought out 5 years later than the ist DS2 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the WG-1 scores vs the ist DS2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Pentax ist DS2

 WG-1 ist DS2 
IntroducedFebruary 2011August 2005Fresher by 67 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Pentax WG-1

 ist DS2 WG-1 

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax ist DS2

 WG-1 ist DS2 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-1 has outside dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst 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).

Compare the Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 in our completely new 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 are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the WG-1 vs the ist DS2.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-1 and ist DS2 is 93 and 68 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-1 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The WG-1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax WG-1 will provide extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer WG-1 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
35
you can focus manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
50
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Street photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography advice
54
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography info
37
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Travel photography camera
71
environment proof
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than average in class (605g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
42
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14MP)
environment proof
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-1
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
22
lighter than average in class (605 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
no external mic socket
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Pentax ist DS2
 Pentax Optio WG-1Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax Optio WG-1 Pentax ist DS2
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-02-07 2005-08-22
Physical type 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 area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.90 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 grams (0.35 lbs) 605 grams (1.33 lbs)
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 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 life 260 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $350 -