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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 III
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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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax VS20, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-M1 II was manufactured 4 years after the VS20 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-M1 II scores vs the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Pentax VS20

 E-M1 II VS20 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2012Newer by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 VS20 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax VS20

 E-M1 II VS20 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 II provides exterior dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 II vs the VS20.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and VS20 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing technical specs. The picture here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 II and VS20.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 II featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 II will offer you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 II provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
75
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
78
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than competitors (574g)
good ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
72
lighter than competitors (574 grams)
environment sealing
features touch to focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery life (350 per charge)
68
lighter than average (235g)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
76
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery life (350 shots)
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging highlights
Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
lighter than competitors (574g)
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax VS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Pentax Optio VS20
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-09-19 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2500s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MOV, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1312 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLH-1 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual Single
Retail price $1,700 $106