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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Released August 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M10 IV
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
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-M10 III (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 III was launched 5 years later than the VS20 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M10 III matches up versus the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Pentax VS20

 E-M10 III VS20 
ReleasedAugust 2017January 2012More recent by 69 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 VS20 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax VS20

 E-M10 III VS20 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 III features external dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 III vs the VS20.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 III and VS20 is 80 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The graphic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 III and VS20.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The E-M10 III contains the larger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field easier. The more modern E-M10 III is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography details
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition in class (410g)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
67
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (410 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
47
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 III
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
32
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (410g)
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax VS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pentax Optio VS20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2017-08-31 2012-01-25
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 grams (0.90 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 life 330 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $650 $106