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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus SH-2
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 SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was brought out 4 years after the VS20 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SH-3 scores against the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax VS20

 SH-3 VS20 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2012Newer by 50 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus SH-3

 VS20 SH-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax VS20

 SH-3 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 provides outer dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SH-3 vs the VS20.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and VS20 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The picture here will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and VS20.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of images however you should always take the release date of the cameras into account. The more recent SH-3 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-3
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
lighter than others in class (271g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
Travel photography with Pentax VS20
74
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax VS20
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-02-08 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $579 $106