Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20
87 Imaging
33 Features
28 Overall
31


90 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37
Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
- 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
- Announced August 2009
(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

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Overview
Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax VS20, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and VS20 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

The SX120 IS was manufactured 3 years prior to the VS20 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SX120 IS scores against the VS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX120 IS & Pentax Optio VS20. The entire galleries are viewable at Canon SX120 IS Gallery & Pentax VS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Pentax VS20
SX120 IS | VS20 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon SX120 IS
VS20 | SX120 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2012 | ![]() | August 2009 | More modern by 29 months |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax VS20
SX120 IS | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very precise focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Lacking Touch display |
Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX120 IS has outside dimensions of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).
Check out the Canon SX120 IS and Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SX120 IS and the VS20.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX120 IS and VS20 is 87 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX120 IS and VS20.
As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax VS20 will give greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS | Pentax Optio VS20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Pentax |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX120 IS | Pentax Optio VS20 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Announced | 2009-08-19 | 2012-01-25 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.5" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 5.744 x 4.308mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 24.7mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 3:2 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 36-360mm (10.0x) | 28-560mm (20.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-4.3 | f/3.1-4.8 |
Macro focusing range | 1cm | 3cm |
Focal length multiplier | 6.3 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 460 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | - | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 4 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2500 seconds | 1/2500 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames/s | 1.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.00 m | 2.80 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/500 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone 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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 285 grams (0.63 lbs) | 235 grams (0.52 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") | 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery ID | 2 x AA | D-LI122 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at launch | $249 | $106 |