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Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
35
Overall
36

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Announced February 2009
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
  • Released January 2012
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon L20 and Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L20 was announced 4 years prior to the VS20 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the L20 grades vs the VS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Pentax VS20

 L20 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon L20

 VS20 L20 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 36 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Pentax VS20

 L20 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon L20 features outside dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Nikon L20 and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the L20 compared to the VS20.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the L20 and VS20 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L20 and VS20.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Pentax VS20 to give more detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older L20 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
36
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than average (135 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
55
lighter than average (135 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
26
screen is a good size (3 inch)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging advice
Pentax VS20 Vlogging advice
24
lighter than average (135 grams)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix L20Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-03 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 gr (0.30 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 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 model 2 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $120 $106