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Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Nikon P510
  • New Model is Nikon P530
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
  • Announced January 2012
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Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. The resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P520 was manufactured 13 months later than the VS20 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the P520 matches up against the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Pentax VS20

 P520 VS20 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013January 2012More recent by 13 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon P520

 VS20 P520 

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Pentax VS20

 P520 VS20 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon P520 offers exterior measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the P520 versus the VS20.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and VS20 is 66 and 90 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and VS20.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Nikon P520 to show more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The fresher P520 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography details
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
41
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon P520
Street photography with Pentax VS20
51
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (550 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
46
amazing zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P520 Travel photography features
Pentax VS20 Travel photography features
57
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1000mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (550 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P520
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
46
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P520
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
57
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (550g)
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Nikon P520 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix P520Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix P520 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-29 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 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 - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 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 200 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL5 D-LI122
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $380 $106