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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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 GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax VS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was revealed 3 months later than the VS20 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the GF5 matches up vs the VS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Pentax VS20

 GF5 VS20 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic GF5

 VS20 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Pentax VS20

 GF5 VS20 
ReleasedApril 2012January 2012Same age
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 provides outer measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 versus Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the GF5 compared to the VS20.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and VS20 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and VS20.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF5 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Pentax VS20 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
55
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography features
Pentax VS20 Street photography features
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography features
Pentax VS20 Travel photography features
61
boasts touch to focus
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
59
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
47
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
32
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
30
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic GF5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-04-05 2012-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
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 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 267 gr (0.59 lbs) 235 gr (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 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 20.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $600 $106