Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony A850

The following is a thorough analysis of the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and A850 (25MP) and the ist DS2 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The ist DS2 was manufactured 5 years prior to the A850 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the ist DS2 grades against the A850 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax ist DS2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax ist DS2 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax ist DS2 features outer dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) while the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Examine the Pentax ist DS2 versus Sony A850 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the ist DS2 vs the A850.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ist DS2 and A850 is 68 and 54 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The picture below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ist DS2 and A850.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ist DS2 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A850 will give you extra detail due to its extra 19MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged ist DS2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.