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Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
48
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot S100 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon S100
(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
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Canon S100 over the Pentax VS20

 S100 VS20 
Screen resolution461k460kSharper 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 
RevealedDecember 2011January 2012Same generation
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

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

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S100 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
44
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
36
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S100
Street photography with Pentax VS20
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S100 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
32
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S100 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
61
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than others in class (235g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S100 Landscape photography information
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography information
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S100
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
36
rather wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone port
30
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Canon S100 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S100 and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot S100Pentax 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