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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Announced February 2012
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
  • Announced August 2005
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Pentax WG-2 GPS versus Pentax ist DS2, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are designed by Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the WG-2 GPS (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the WG-2 GPS (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-2 GPS was revealed 6 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-2 GPS being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the WG-2 GPS grades against the ist DS2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Pentax ist DS2

 WG-2 GPS ist DS2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012August 2005More modern by 79 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kSharper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 ist DS2 WG-2 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Pentax ist DS2

 WG-2 GPS ist DS2 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax WG-2 GPS enjoys physical dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax WG-2 GPS versus Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the WG-2 GPS and the ist DS2.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 GPS and ist DS2 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-2 GPS and ist DS2.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WG-2 GPS having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax WG-2 GPS will offer greater detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer WG-2 GPS will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography highlights
40
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
MP count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography highlights
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
38
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
70
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
52
lighter than competitors (605g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography details
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
MP count low (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Vlogging camera
30
pretty wide (28mm)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone support
22
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video ( pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 GPS and Pentax ist DS2
 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPSPentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Pentax ist DS2
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-02-07 2005-08-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.40 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lbs) 605 gr (1.33 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 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 life 260 images -
Type 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $300 -