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Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-855mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 538g - 114 x 89 x 96mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Succeeded the Nikon L830
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
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Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon L840 versus Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L840 was unveiled 3 years later than the VS20 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the L840 matches up against the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Pentax VS20

 L840 VS20 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2012Fresher by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon L840

 VS20 L840 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Pentax VS20

 L840 VS20 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L840 features outer dimensions of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") with a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L840 versus Pentax VS20 in our completely new 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 are using during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the L840 vs the VS20.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the L840 and VS20 is 67 and 90 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual here will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L840 and VS20.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution therefore you can expect similar quality of photos although you may want to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The newer L840 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
36
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
36
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L840
Street photography with Pentax VS20
51
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than average in class (538 grams)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (590 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
57
better than average battery pack (590 shots)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (23mm)
very long zoom (855mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (538g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition (235g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography features
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography features
43
decently wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
better than average battery pack (590 shots)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L840
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
27
decently wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than average in class (538g)
30
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
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Nikon L840 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix L840Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix L840 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-10 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-855mm (37.2x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 7.4 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance 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 (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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 538g (1.19 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 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 590 shots -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $400 $106