Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20
93 Imaging
36 Features
48 Overall
40


90 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37
Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-120mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
- 198g - 99 x 60 x 28mm
- Introduced December 2011
- Succeeded the Canon S95
- Replacement is Canon S110
(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
- Revealed January 2012

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Overview
Below is a extensive comparison of the Canon S100 and Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the S100 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the S100 (1/1.7") and VS20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

The S100 was introduced within a month of the VS20 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the S100 matches up versus the VS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot S100 and Pentax Optio VS20. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon S100 Gallery and Pentax VS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Pentax VS20
S100 | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper screen (+1k dot) |
Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon S100
VS20 | S100 |
---|
Common features in the Canon S100 and Pentax VS20
S100 | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | December 2011 | ![]() | January 2012 | Same generation |
Manual focus | ![]() | More accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Lacking Touch screen |
Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison
When you are intending to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon S100 provides outside measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and 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).
Contrast the Canon S100 and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the S100 compared to the VS20.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S100 and VS20 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through specifications. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S100 and VS20.
Plainly, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The S100 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax VS20 will produce more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications
Canon PowerShot S100 | Pentax Optio VS20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Canon | Pentax |
Model | Canon PowerShot S100 | Pentax Optio VS20 |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Introduced | 2011-12-22 | 2012-01-25 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 5 | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/1.7" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 7.44 x 5.58mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 41.5mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
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 | 24-120mm (5.0x) | 28-560mm (20.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/2.0-5.9 | f/3.1-4.8 |
Macro focus distance | 3cm | 3cm |
Focal length multiplier | 4.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 461k dot | 460k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Screen technology | - | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 15 secs | 4 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/2500 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 7.00 m | 2.80 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/2000 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (120, 30 fps), 320 x 240 (240, 30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | H.264, Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 198 grams (0.44 lb) | 235 grams (0.52 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 99 x 60 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 50 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 20.7 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 11.6 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 153 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 200 pictures | - |
Battery format | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | NB-5L | D-LI122 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at release | $429 | $106 |