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Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Superseded the Canon S110
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a complete review of the Canon S120 versus Pentax VS20, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the S120 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the S120 (1/1.7") and VS20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was revealed 23 months after the VS20 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the S120 matches up versus the VS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Pentax VS20

 S120 VS20 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2012More modern by 23 months
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon S120

 VS20 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Pentax VS20

 S120 VS20 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon S120 enjoys exterior measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S120 versus Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the S120 vs the VS20.

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and VS20 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the S120 and VS20.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S120 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax VS20 will render greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern S120 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
42
focusing manually
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Pentax VS20
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
67
boasts focus by touch
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition (217g)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography advice
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography advice
57
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
35
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competition (217g)
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Canon S120 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot S120Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-11-26 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 922k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $449 $106