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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DS2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed August 2005
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony QX30, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Lens-style by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the ist DS2 (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ist DS2 was manufactured 10 years prior to the QX30 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the ist DS2 scores against the QX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Sony QX30

 ist DS2 QX30 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimension2.5""Bigger screen (+2.5")
Screen resolution210k0kClearer screen (+210k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Pentax ist DS2

 QX30 ist DS2 
IntroducedSeptember 2014August 2005More modern by 109 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony QX30

 ist DS2 QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax ist DS2 enjoys external measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony QX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the ist DS2 versus the QX30.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ist DS2 and QX30 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ist DS2 and QX30.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ist DS2 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony QX30 will provide more detail due to its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ist DS2 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
50
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (6 megapixels)
38
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Street photography information
Sony QX30 Street photography information
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (605g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography highlights
Sony QX30 Sports photography highlights
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography details
Sony QX30 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competitors (605g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (6 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
65
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography factors
Sony QX30 Landscape photography factors
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
39
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen ( inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging highlights
Sony QX30 Vlogging highlights
22
lighter than competitors (605 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great ( resolution)
missing external microphone support
35
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DS2 and Sony QX30
 Pentax ist DS2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax ist DS2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Revealed 2005-08-22 2014-09-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2008 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches -
Resolution of screen 210k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction None
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution - 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless No Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 605 gr (1.33 pounds) 193 gr (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Launch pricing - $348