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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
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-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 17 months after the VS20 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PM2 matches up against the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax VS20

 E-PM2 VS20 
IntroducedMay 2013January 2012Newer by 17 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-PM2

 VS20 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax VS20

 E-PM2 VS20 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 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).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 against the VS20.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and VS20 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by going over specs. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and VS20.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The more recent E-PM2 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
36
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Pentax VS20
66
features touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
47
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging features
Pentax VS20 Vlogging features
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-05-21 2012-01-25
Body design 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos -
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $448 $106