Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony A200

On this page, we will be reviewing the Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony A200, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and A200 (10MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The ist DS2 was revealed 3 years before the A200 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A200 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the ist DS2 scores vs the A200 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax ist DS2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A200. The full galleries are provided at Pentax ist DS2 Gallery and Sony A200 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax ist DS2 has got physical measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) while the Sony A200 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8") and a weight of 572 grams (1.26 lbs).

Compare the Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony A200 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the ist DS2 vs the A200.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ist DS2 and A200 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The picture underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the ist DS2 and A200.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A200 to give you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged ist DS2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.