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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax VS20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was unveiled 6 years later than the VS20 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL9 grades vs the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax VS20

 E-PL9 VS20 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2012Fresher by 74 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-PL9

 VS20 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax VS20

 E-PL9 VS20 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 offers external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 versus the VS20.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and VS20 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and VS20.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 uses the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field easier. The fresher E-PL9 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
36
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
77
connects via bluetooth
provides focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
does not offer selfie friendly display
68
lighter than others (235g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography factors
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
47
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging information
Pentax VS20 Vlogging information
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
30
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2018-02-08 2012-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $599 $106