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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF5
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
  • Launched January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Panasonic GF3 versus Pentax VS20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The GF3 was manufactured 5 months prior to the VS20 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GF3 matches up versus the VS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Pentax VS20

 GF3 VS20 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic GF3

 VS20 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Pentax VS20

 GF3 VS20 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2012Similar generation
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 has external measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF3 versus 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 change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the GF3 and the VS20.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and VS20 is 90 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The visual here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and VS20.

To sum up, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF3 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax VS20 will offer greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography information
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
36
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography details
Pentax VS20 Street photography details
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
58
supports touch to focus
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing mic support
30
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Panasonic GF3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-11 2012-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 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 resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264g (0.58 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $360 $106