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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

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
  • Announced January 2006
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony HX300, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ist DL2 (6MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the ist DL2 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ist DL2 was launched 8 years before the HX300 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the ist DL2 grades versus the HX300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Sony HX300

 ist DL2 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Pentax ist DL2

 HX300 ist DL2 
RevealedFebruary 2013January 2006More modern by 86 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k210kClearer screen (+711k dot)

Common features in the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony HX300

 ist DL2 HX300 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax ist DL2 features outer dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony HX300 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the ist DL2 vs the HX300.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ist DL2 and HX300 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The pic below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ist DL2 and HX300.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ist DL2 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX300 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged ist DL2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX300 Portrait photography factors
50
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low MP (6 megapixels)
42
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Street photography information
Sony HX300 Street photography information
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than average in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Sports photography camera
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
52
lighter than average in class (565g)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (623 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
Landscape photography with Sony HX300
46
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
48
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
22
lighter than average in class (565g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution ( pxls)
does not have external microphone port
25
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DL2 and Sony HX300
 Pentax ist DL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax ist DL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2006-01-27 2013-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Peak resolution 3008 x 2008 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Number of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 210 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution - 1920x1080
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless No None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 565 gr (1.25 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 639 not tested
Other
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC card -
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release - $339