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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
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
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-5 and Pentax VS20, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was launched 11 months before the VS20 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-5 matches up vs the VS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax VS20

 E-5 VS20 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-5

 VS20 E-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2011More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax VS20

 E-5 VS20 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 features exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 and Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-5 and the VS20.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and VS20 is 58 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out technical specs. The image below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and VS20.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-5 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax VS20 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-5 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
36
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography details
Pentax VS20 Street photography details
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography information
Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment sealing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
68
lighter than average in class (235g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging features
Pentax VS20 Vlogging features
64
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
does have external mic support
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus E-5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-5 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-03 2012-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 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
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 3
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Launch cost $1,700 $106