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Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
67
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Successor is Nikon P510
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
Photography Glossary

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Nikon P500 and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The P500 was released 11 months before the VS20 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the P500 grades vs the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Pentax VS20

 P500 VS20 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon P500

 VS20 P500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2011More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Pentax VS20

 P500 VS20 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon P500 offers external measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon P500 and Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the P500 versus the VS20.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the P500 and VS20 is 67 and 90 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and VS20.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Pentax VS20 to render more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged P500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
34
has manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
36
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography features
Pentax VS20 Street photography features
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors (494g)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P500
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
36
excellent zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P500
Travel photography with Pentax VS20
47
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
very long zoom (810mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competition (235g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
38
has manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 Vlogging highlights
Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
26
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Nikon P500 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix P500Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix P500 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-09 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-810mm (35.2x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 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
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494g (1.09 lb) 235g (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 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 life 220 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL5 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $399 $106