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Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax VS20, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was introduced 3 years prior to the VS20 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FS12 grades versus the VS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Pentax VS20

 FS12 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic FS12

 VS20 FS12 
RevealedJanuary 2012April 2009Fresher by 33 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax VS20

 FS12 VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 provides outside dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS12 and Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the FS12 against the VS20.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and VS20 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and VS20.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Pentax VS20 to result in extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older FS12 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
36
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography details
Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS12
Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
Pentax VS20 Vlogging features
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
30
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic FS12 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-04-17 2012-01-25
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $228 $106