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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FX48 was unveiled 4 years prior to the VS20 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FX48 matches up vs the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Pentax VS20

 FX48 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic FX48

 VS20 FX48 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2009More recent by 36 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Pentax VS20

 FX48 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FX48 offers external dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the FX48 against the VS20.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FX48 and VS20 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The photograph below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FX48 and VS20.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Pentax VS20 to offer greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The older FX48 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
27
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
33
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging details
Pentax VS20 Vlogging details
30
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone port
30
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Panasonic FX48 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Pentax Optio VS20
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-27 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync 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 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)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lb) 235g (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $325 $106