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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(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
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P3
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-P5 and Pentax VS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P5 was launched 21 months after the VS20 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-P5 matches up versus the VS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Pentax VS20

 E-P5 VS20 
IntroducedOctober 2013January 2012Newer by 21 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-P5

 VS20 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Pentax VS20

 E-P5 VS20 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P5 features physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P5 and Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P5 compared to the VS20.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P5 and VS20 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and VS20.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P5 provides the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF simpler. The younger E-P5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
36
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P5
Street photography with Pentax VS20
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition in class (420g)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
68
features focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than competition in class (420 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no mic socket
heavier than competition in class (420 grams)
30
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-P5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-03 2012-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 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
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lbs) 235 grams (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $389 $106