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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39
Pentax ist DS2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released August 2005
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
Photography Glossary

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the ist DS2 (6MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the ist DS2 (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) offer different sensor sizing.

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The ist DS2 was announced 8 years earlier than the RX1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the ist DS2 scores against the RX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Sony RX1

 ist DS2 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Pentax ist DS2

 RX1 ist DS2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013August 2005Fresher by 91 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k210kClearer display (+1019k dot)

Common features in the Pentax ist DS2 and Sony RX1

 ist DS2 RX1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax ist DS2 provides exterior measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the ist DS2 and the RX1.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ist DS2 and RX1 is 68 and 79 respectively.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ist DS2 and RX1.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ist DS2 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony RX1 will produce more detail with its extra 18 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older ist DS2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
50
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (6MP)
81
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX1 Sports photography highlights
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
53
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax ist DS2
Travel photography with Sony RX1
52
lighter than competition in class (605g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
62
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
low battery pack (270 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
64
focusing manually
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1 Vlogging highlights
22
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
does not have mic jack
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
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Pentax ist DS2 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax ist DS2 and Sony RX1
 Pentax ist DS2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax ist DS2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Released 2005-08-22 2013-02-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2008 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 210 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution - 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless No Eye-Fi Connected
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 lb) 482 gr (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost - $2,798