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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99

Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Pentax ist DL2 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

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
  • Released January 2006
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A99, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ist DL2 (6MP) and A99 (24MP) and the ist DL2 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ist DL2 was unveiled 7 years before the A99 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the ist DL2 grades against the A99 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Sony A99

 ist DL2 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Pentax ist DL2

 A99 ist DL2 
ReleasedDecember 2012January 2006More recent by 83 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1229k210kCrisper screen (+1019k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A99

 ist DL2 A99 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax ist DL2 enjoys exterior measurements 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 A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A99 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the ist DL2 and the A99.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ist DL2 and A99 is 69 and 57 respectively.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The photograph here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ist DL2 and A99.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ist DL2 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A99 will show extra detail having an extra 18MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older ist DL2 will be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 Portrait photography advice
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (6MP)
82
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
Sony A99 Sports photography factors
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax ist DL2
Travel photography with Sony A99
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
environment sealing
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A99 Landscape photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
75
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
bad battery life (500 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
Sony A99 Vlogging advice
22
lighter than competition in class (565g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution ( pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
76
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic support
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Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DL2 and Sony A99
 Pentax ist DL2Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax ist DL2 Sony SLT-A99
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2006-01-27 2012-12-12
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3008 x 2008 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 5 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 210 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution - 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless No None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 565g (1.25 lbs) 812g (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 89
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 14.0
DXO Low light score 639 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Price at release - $1,998