Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20
64 Imaging
37 Features
42 Overall
39


90 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
- 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
- Launched September 2010
- Earlier Model is Canon SX20 IS
- Renewed by Canon SX40 HS
(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 SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Overview
Let's look a little more closely at the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very similar and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

The SX30 IS was released 16 months before the VS20 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.
Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX30 IS grades vs the VS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX30 IS & Pentax Optio VS20. The complete galleries are available at Canon SX30 IS Gallery & Pentax VS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Pentax VS20
SX30 IS | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon SX30 IS
VS20 | SX30 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2012 | ![]() | September 2010 | More modern by 16 months |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax VS20
SX30 IS | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Touch display | ![]() | No Touch display |
Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX30 IS comes with outer dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 601 grams (1.32 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).
Check the Canon SX30 IS and Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SX30 IS vs the VS20.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SX30 IS and VS20 is 64 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The picture here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX30 IS and VS20.
As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Pentax VS20 to deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged SX30 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS | Pentax Optio VS20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Pentax |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX30 IS | Pentax Optio VS20 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Launched | 2010-09-14 | 2012-01-25 |
Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-840mm (35.0x) | 28-560mm (20.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/2.7-5.8 | f/3.1-4.8 |
Macro focusing distance | 0cm | 3cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 460k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display technology | - | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 secs | 4 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/3200 secs | 1/2500 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0fps | 1.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.80 m | 2.80 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 601 grams (1.32 lbs) | 235 grams (0.52 lbs) |
Dimensions | 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") | 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 | NB-7L | D-LI122 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $400 | $106 |