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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Announced July 2011
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
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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Panasonic LS5 and Pentax VS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the LS5 (14MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The LS5 was introduced 6 months prior to the VS20 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the LS5 scores versus the VS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Pentax VS20

 LS5 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic LS5

 VS20 LS5 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LS5 and Pentax VS20

 LS5 VS20 
LaunchedJuly 2011January 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic LS5 provides external dimensions of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LS5 and Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the LS5 compared to the VS20.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the LS5 and VS20 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the LS5 and VS20.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Pentax VS20 to show more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos more aggressively.

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
36
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (126g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery (160 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Landscape photography features
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography features
36
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery (160 shots)
no Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competitors (126g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
30
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
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Panasonic LS5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LS5 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-07-21 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact 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 surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.60 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126 grams (0.28 lbs) 235 grams (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 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 life 160 images -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $294 $106