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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax VS20, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 22 months later than the VS20 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-M1 grades against the VS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax VS20

 E-M1 VS20 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-M1

 VS20 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax VS20

 E-M1 VS20 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 versus the VS20.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and VS20 is 71 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and VS20.

As you can tell, both cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The E-M1 features the larger sensor which should make achieving bokeh simpler. The more recent E-M1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Pentax VS20
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than others (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 shots)
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others (497 grams)
weather proof
provides focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
terrible battery (350 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery (350 per charge)
47
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Pentax VS20 Vlogging features
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
lighter than others (497 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
30
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $799 $106