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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2013
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus SZ-15 versus Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was announced 18 months later than the VS20 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-15 grades versus the VS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax VS20

 SZ-15 VS20 
IntroducedJune 2013January 2012More recent by 18 months

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus SZ-15

 VS20 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax VS20

 SZ-15 VS20 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 features outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has measurements 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 SZ-15 versus Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 against the VS20.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and VS20 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The photograph here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and VS20.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you will want to factor the age of the cameras into account. The newer SZ-15 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
36
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-15 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-06-21 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 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
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 3
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 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 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 235 gr (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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 model SLB-10A D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $200 $106