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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly close and they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was manufactured 12 months after the VS20 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SZ-16 iHS grades against the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Pentax VS20

 SZ-16 iHS VS20 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012Newer by 12 months

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 VS20 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax VS20

 SZ-16 iHS VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax VS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-16 iHS against the VS20.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and VS20 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-16 iHS and VS20.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution and you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you should really consider the age of the cameras into account. The fresher SZ-16 iHS should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
36
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
Pentax VS20 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging info
Pentax VS20 Vlogging info
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax VS20
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 3
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 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 MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
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 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 life 220 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $230 $106