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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH1
  • New Model is Panasonic GH3
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
  • Launched January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax VS20, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The GH2 was manufactured 10 months before the VS20 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the GH2 matches up against the VS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax VS20

 GH2 VS20 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic GH2

 VS20 GH2 
LaunchedJanuary 2012March 2011More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax VS20

 GH2 VS20 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH2 comes with external dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 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).

See the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the GH2 against the VS20.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and VS20 is 70 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The image here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH2 and VS20.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The GH2 has the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged GH2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
70
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
36
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH2
Street photography with Pentax VS20
68
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
46
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
62
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging details
Pentax VS20 Vlogging details
71
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
no image stabilization
30
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-03-23 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 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 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 442 gr (0.97 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,000 $106