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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Succeeded the Leica V-Lux 3
  • Refreshed by Leica V-Lux 5
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
  • Launched January 2012
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Leica and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was manufactured 8 months after the VS20 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the V-Lux 4 matches up vs the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Pentax VS20

 V-Lux 4 VS20 
LaunchedSeptember 2012January 2012More modern by 8 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Leica V-Lux 4

 VS20 V-Lux 4 

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Pentax VS20

 V-Lux 4 VS20 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Leica V-Lux 4 has got outside measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Examine the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the V-Lux 4 and the VS20.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the V-Lux 4 and VS20 is 65 and 90 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The pic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the V-Lux 4 and VS20.

To sum up, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Pentax VS20 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer V-Lux 4 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
45
you can focus manually
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
36
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Street photography with Pentax VS20
57
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Travel photography details
Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
55
better than average battery life (540 shots)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than average (235g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
48
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
47
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 4
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
63
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
30
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Pentax VS20
 Leica V-Lux 4Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Leica Pentax
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588 gr (1.30 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 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 540 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $899 $106