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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax VS20

 E-P3 VS20 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-P3

 VS20 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax VS20

 E-P3 VS20 
AnnouncedAugust 2011January 2012Same generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

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

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
36
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Pentax VS20 Street photography features
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
no moving screen
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
60
offers focus by touch
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (235g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
no Timelapse recording
47
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Pentax VS20 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-17 2012-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 235 grams (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $0 $106