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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Olympus SP-600 UZ front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-420mm (F3.5-5.4) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Revealed February 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-590 UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-610UZ
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
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SP-600 UZ (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SP-600 UZ was announced 24 months prior to the VS20 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SP-600 UZ scores against the VS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-600 UZ over the Pentax VS20

 SP-600 UZ VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus SP-600 UZ

 VS20 SP-600 UZ 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2010More modern by 24 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax VS20

 SP-600 UZ VS20 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-600 UZ has got exterior dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") along with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-600 UZ vs the VS20.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-600 UZ and VS20 is 69 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-600 UZ and VS20.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Pentax VS20 to give extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged SP-600 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Portrait photography details
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Street photography factors
Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
36
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
31
great zoom range (28-420mm 15.0 x zoom)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
great zoom (420mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Landscape photography information
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography information
29
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
47
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
20
really wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
30
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax VS20
 Olympus SP-600 UZPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-600 UZ Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-02-02 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 143 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-420mm (15.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.4 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/2s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.10 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 455 gr (1.00 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $189 $106