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Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Introduced February 2016
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
  • Announced January 2012
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Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Nikon B500 and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. The resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is pretty close and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The B500 was announced 4 years later than the VS20 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the B500 grades versus the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Pentax VS20

 B500 VS20 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016January 2012More recent by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon B500

 VS20 B500 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Pentax VS20

 B500 VS20 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon B500 offers physical dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon B500 and Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the B500 against the VS20.

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the B500 and VS20 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The graphic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and VS20.

Plainly, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you might want to factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern B500 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
37
MP count good (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
36
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
52
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon B500
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
51
long zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
great battery life (600 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
59
great battery life (600 CIPA)
has bluetooth
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (23mm)
great zoom (900mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than others (235g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon B500
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
45
quite wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
great battery life (600 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging information
Pentax VS20 Vlogging information
27
quite wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (541 grams)
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon B500 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix B500Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-02-23 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.4 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 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, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 541 grams (1.19 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 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 600 photos -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model 4 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $300 $106