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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Released July 2009
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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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FP8 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the VS20 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FP8 grades against the VS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Pentax VS20

 FP8 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic FP8

 VS20 FP8 
IntroducedJanuary 2012July 2009Fresher by 30 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Pentax VS20

 FP8 VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP8 has got physical dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while 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).

Check the Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FP8 vs the VS20.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and VS20 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FP8 and VS20.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax VS20 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older FP8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
21
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
36
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP8
Street photography with Pentax VS20
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (151 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography details
Pentax VS20 Sports photography details
24
image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography factors
Pentax VS20 Travel photography factors
56
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (151 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
28
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
more heavy than average (151 grams)
30
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-27 2012-01-25
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine V -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1300s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 151g (0.33 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 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 ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $300 $106