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Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Launched January 2012
Photography Glossary

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Canon and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was brought out 4 years after the VS20 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the SX420 IS scores versus the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Pentax VS20

 SX420 IS VS20 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2012Newer by 49 months

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon SX420 IS

 VS20 SX420 IS 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax VS20

 SX420 IS VS20 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX420 IS has got physical dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX420 IS and the VS20.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX420 IS and VS20 is 80 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX420 IS and VS20.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon SX420 IS to provide extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer SX420 IS will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
36
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX420 IS
Street photography with Pentax VS20
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX420 IS
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
41
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (0.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
61
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (195 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX420 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
47
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging information
Pentax VS20 Vlogging information
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-05 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter speed 0.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 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 MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 235g (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life 195 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11LH D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $299 $106