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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DL2 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 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 A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A35
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony A33, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the ist DL2 (6MP) and A33 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The ist DL2 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the A33 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the ist DL2 grades against the A33 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Sony A33

 ist DL2 A33 

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Pentax ist DL2

 A33 ist DL2 
IntroducedAugust 2010January 2006More recent by 55 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k210kClearer display (+711k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A33

 ist DL2 A33 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax ist DL2 offers external dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony A33 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the ist DL2 versus the A33.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ist DL2 and A33 is 69 and 67 respectively.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ist DL2 and A33.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Sony A33 to give you more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The older ist DL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
Portrait photography with Sony A33
50
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
low resolution (6 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Street photography factors
Sony A33 Street photography factors
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
76
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
Sony A33 Sports photography factors
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography factors
Sony A33 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than average in class (565g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (6MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
61
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (340 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography features
Sony A33 Landscape photography features
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (6MP)
no Time Lapse mode
67
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (340 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
Sony A33 Vlogging advice
22
lighter than average in class (565 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low ( resolution)
no mic support
77
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A33
 Pentax ist DL2Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax ist DL2 Sony SLT-A33
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2006-01-27 2010-08-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2008 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 5 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 210k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution - 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless No Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 565g (1.25 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 12.6
DXO Low light rating 639 591
Other
Battery life - 340 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release - $230