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Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20

Portability
92
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon G9 X II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-84mm (F2-4.9) lens
  • 206g - 98 x 58 x 31mm
  • Announced January 2017
  • Superseded the Canon G9 X
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Released January 2012
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Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Canon G9 X II and Pentax VS20, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the G9 X II (20MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the G9 X II (1") and VS20 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The G9 X II was launched 5 years later than the VS20 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the G9 X II scores against the VS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon G9 X II over the Pentax VS20

 G9 X II VS20 
ReleasedJanuary 2017January 2012Fresher by 61 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon G9 X II

 VS20 G9 X II 

Common features in the Canon G9 X II and Pentax VS20

 G9 X II VS20 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon G9 X II has got exterior measurements of 98mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Canon G9 X II and Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the G9 X II vs the VS20.

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the G9 X II and VS20 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The visual below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the G9 X II and VS20.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G9 X II because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Canon G9 X II will render more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent G9 X II should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G9 X II Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
64
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
36
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G9 X II Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
80
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
lighter than average in class (206 grams)
screen does not articulate
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon G9 X II Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
offers tracking autofocus
not so great battery power (235 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G9 X II Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
78
lighter than average in class (206g)
connects via bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2)
not so great battery power (235 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G9 X II Landscape photography factors
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
70
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery power (235 shots)
47
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon G9 X II Vlogging details
Pentax VS20 Vlogging details
39
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (206g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
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Canon G9 X II vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G9 X II and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark IIPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II Pentax Optio VS20
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2017-01-04 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 7 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-84mm (3.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2-4.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 8.2 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 grams (0.45 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 522 not tested
Other
Battery life 235 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $530 $106