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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released April 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Updated by Olympus E-P3
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-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax VS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P2 was brought out 21 months before the VS20 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-P2 matches up against the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Pentax VS20

 E-P2 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-P2

 VS20 E-P2 
ReleasedJanuary 2012April 2010Fresher by 21 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax VS20

 E-P2 VS20 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 comes with outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P2 vs the VS20.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and VS20 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and VS20.

As you can see, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P2 featuring a larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Pentax VS20 will offer more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-P2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
36
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
43
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than average (235 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
47
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
30
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-P2Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-04-22 2012-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 235g (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $799 $106