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Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Canon PowerShot A1100 IS front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon A1100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 62 x 31mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the A1100 IS (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A1100 IS was brought out 3 years prior to the VS20 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A1100 IS matches up versus the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1100 IS over the Pentax VS20

 A1100 IS VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon A1100 IS

 VS20 A1100 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2012February 2009More recent by 35 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k115kClearer display (+345k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1100 IS and Pentax VS20

 A1100 IS VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon A1100 IS has got outer measurements of 95mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the A1100 IS vs the VS20.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A1100 IS and VS20 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The photograph underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A1100 IS and VS20.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Pentax VS20 to provide more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The older A1100 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A1100 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
26
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Street photography factors
Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Sports photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1100 IS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
68
lighter than average (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A1100 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
27
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
47
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1100 IS Vlogging details
Pentax VS20 Vlogging details
27
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Canon A1100 IS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1100 IS and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot A1100 ISPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A1100 IS Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-18 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 115 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $160 $106