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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Released February 2018
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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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax VS20, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The GX9 was revealed 6 years after the VS20 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the GX9 grades against the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax VS20

 GX9 VS20 
ReleasedFebruary 2018January 2012Newer by 74 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1240k460kCrisper screen (+780k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic GX9

 VS20 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax VS20

 GX9 VS20 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX9 has got external dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") with a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the GX9 versus the VS20.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GX9 and VS20 is 82 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching specs. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GX9 and VS20.

All in all, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GX9 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic GX9 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern GX9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
76
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GX9
Street photography with Pentax VS20
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX9
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
72
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (260 shots)
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
71
connects via bluetooth
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery (260 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (260 shots)
47
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging highlights
Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2018-02-13 2012-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,240k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407g (0.90 lb) 235g (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 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 260 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $1,000 $106