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Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20

Portability
63
Imaging
48
Features
67
Overall
55
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Canon SX70 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 21-1365mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 608g - 127 x 91 x 117mm
  • Announced September 2018
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Canon SX70 HS versus Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX70 HS (20MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX70 HS was revealed 6 years after the VS20 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX70 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SX70 HS matches up versus the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX70 HS over the Pentax VS20

 SX70 HS VS20 
IntroducedSeptember 2018January 2012More modern by 81 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon SX70 HS

 VS20 SX70 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX70 HS and Pentax VS20

 SX70 HS VS20 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX70 HS provides physical dimensions of 127mm x 91mm x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6") with a weight of 608 grams (1.34 lbs) whilst 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 SX70 HS versus Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX70 HS vs the VS20.

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX70 HS and VS20 is 63 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The image underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX70 HS and VS20.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX70 HS to produce extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SX70 HS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX70 HS Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
55
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX70 HS Street photography info
Pentax VS20 Street photography info
58
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (608g)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX70 HS Sports photography information
Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
57
excellent zoom range (21-1365mm 65.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
has tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX70 HS
Travel photography with Pentax VS20
64
supports bluetooth
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
quite wide (21mm)
long zoom (1365mm)
heavier than competition in class (608 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competition (235g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX70 HS
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
58
focusing manually
quite wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
47
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX70 HS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
64
quite wide (21mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic port
slow max aperture (f3.4)
heavier than competition in class (608g)
30
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Canon SX70 HS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX70 HS and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot SX70 HSPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2018-09-20 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 8 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-1365mm (65.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 120 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 608 grams (1.34 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 91 x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 325 photos -
Type of battery Built-in -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $550 $106