Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax VS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was announced 5 months before the VS20 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-P3 matches up against the VS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P3 and Pentax Optio VS20. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery and Pentax VS20 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 features outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax VS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the VS20.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and VS20 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specifications. The picture underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and VS20.

To sum up, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Pentax VS20 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively.