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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DL2 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 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
  • Revealed January 2006
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A33
  • Later Model is Sony A37
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the ist DL2 (6MP) and A35 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The ist DL2 was launched 6 years before the A35 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ist DL2 grades against the A35 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Sony A35

 ist DL2 A35 

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Pentax ist DL2

 A35 ist DL2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2006Fresher by 68 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k210kClearer screen (+711k dot)

Common features in the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A35

 ist DL2 A35 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax ist DL2 comes with exterior measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sony A35 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the ist DL2 against the A35.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ist DL2 and A35 is 69 and 69 respectively.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ist DL2 and A35.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony A35 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older ist DL2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A35 as a Portrait photography camera
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 as a Street photography camera
Sony A35 as a Street photography camera
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (565g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
71
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (415g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax ist DL2
Sports photography with Sony A35
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (440 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography info
Sony A35 Travel photography info
52
lighter than competition (565 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
58
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery life (440 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
Landscape photography with Sony A35
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
69
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (440 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging info
Sony A35 Vlogging info
22
lighter than competition (565 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
does not have external microphone support
36
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A35
 Pentax ist DL2Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax ist DL2 Sony SLT-A35
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2006-01-27 2011-09-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2008 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 5 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 210k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash settings 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
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 grams (1.25 pounds) 415 grams (0.91 pounds)
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 score 65 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 12.7
DXO Low light score 639 763
Other
Battery life - 440 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release - $598