Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20
70 Imaging
34 Features
37 Overall
35


90 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37
Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 64 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
- 400g - 114 x 99 x 83mm
- Released February 2009
- Succeeded the Nikon P80
(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
- Introduced January 2012

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Overview
Below, we are looking at the Nikon P90 versus Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the P90 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The P90 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the VS20 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon P90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.
Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the P90 matches up against the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon Coolpix P90 & Pentax Optio VS20. The entire galleries are available at Nikon P90 Gallery & Pentax VS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon P90 over the Pentax VS20
P90 | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon P90
VS20 | P90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2012 | ![]() | February 2009 | Fresher by 36 months |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Nikon P90 and Pentax VS20
P90 | VS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Lack of Touch display |
Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon P90 has external dimensions of 114mm x 99mm x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).
Examine the Nikon P90 versus Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the P90 vs the VS20.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the P90 and VS20 is 70 and 90 respectively.

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the P90 and VS20.
As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax VS20 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older P90 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix P90 | Pentax Optio VS20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Nikon | Pentax |
Model type | Nikon Coolpix P90 | Pentax Optio VS20 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Released | 2009-02-03 | 2012-01-25 |
Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 64 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 26-624mm (24.0x) | 28-560mm (20.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-5.0 | f/3.1-4.8 |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | 3cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 230k dot | 460k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen technology | - | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 30 seconds | 4 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/2500 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | - | 1.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 2.80 m |
Flash modes | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
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) |
Highest video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 400 gr (0.88 lbs) | 235 gr (0.52 lbs) |
Dimensions | 114 x 99 x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") | 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 ID | EN-EL5 | D-LI122 |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at launch | $700 | $106 |