Reasons to choose *ist DS2
Released in 2005, *ist DS2 has about 369 mm² of sensor area, 6.1 MP effective resolution, and a 470 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Pentax *ist DS2
vs Sigma SD10
VS
Sensor area
369 mm²
*ist DS2286 mm²
SD10- Area ratio
- 1.29:1
- Absolute difference
- 83 mm²
- Relative difference
- 29.2%
The *ist DS2 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
*ist DS2MetricSD10
6.1 MPEffective pixels3.4 MP
23.5 × 15.7Sensor20.7 × 13.8
7.78 µmPixel pitch9.17 µm
60.48 µm²Pixel area84.02 µm²
1.65 MP/cm²Pixel density1.19 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.74
—Maximum video—
470 gWeight950 g
MultiMedia, Secure DigitalStorageCompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, Microdrive
AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended)BatteryLithium-Ion rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The *ist DS2 has the larger sensor area. The *ist DS2 has the lighter body. The *ist DS2 has the higher effective resolution. The *ist DS2 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose SD10
Released in 2003, SD10 has about 286 mm² of sensor area, 3.4 MP effective resolution, and a 950 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.