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Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
70
Imaging
34
Features
37
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix P90 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Nikon P90
(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
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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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").

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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.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon P90 over the Pentax VS20

 P90 VS20 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Nikon P90

 VS20 P90 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 36 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon P90 and Pentax VS20

 P90 VS20 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

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

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P90 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
28
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P90 Street photography factors
Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
55
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P90 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
37
incredible zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P90 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
54
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
great zoom (624mm)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P90 Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
42
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P90
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone port
30
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon P90 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P90 and Pentax VS20
 Nikon Coolpix P90Pentax 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