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Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40
Pentax Q front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Introduced June 2011
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q10
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed January 2006
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Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are created by Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the Q (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The Q was released 5 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the Q matches up versus the ist DL2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Pentax ist DL2

 Q ist DL2 
RevealedJune 2011January 2006More modern by 66 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax Q

 ist DL2 Q 

Common features in the Pentax Q and Pentax ist DL2

 Q ist DL2 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax Q comes with outside dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) while 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).

Compare the Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the Q and the ist DL2.

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the Q and ist DL2 is 93 and 69 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The picture here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the Q and ist DL2.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Q because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax Q will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer Q provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q Portrait photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography details
45
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax Q
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (180g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (565 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (230 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography advice
57
lighter than others (180 grams)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery (230 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than average in class (565 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax Q
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
51
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (180g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
22
lighter than average in class (565 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( pxls)
no external mic support
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Pentax Q vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax QPentax ist DL2
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Q Pentax ist DL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-06-23 2006-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type 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 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 5
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax Q Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 8 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 grams (0.40 lb) 565 grams (1.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 47 65
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 11.1
DXO Low light score 189 639
Other
Battery life 230 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI68 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $695 -