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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 10 months prior to the VS20 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SZ-30MR grades against the VS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax VS20

 SZ-30MR VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 VS20 SZ-30MR 
RevealedJanuary 2012March 2011Fresher by 10 months
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax VS20

 SZ-30MR VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax VS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-30MR against the VS20.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and VS20 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and VS20.

To sum up, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of photos however you may want to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The older SZ-30MR will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography details
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography features
Pentax VS20 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Pentax VS20 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than average (235g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
30
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax VS20
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 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 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 3
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 235g (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 life 220 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $279 $106