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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched November 2008
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LX5
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 LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and VS20 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The LX3 was unveiled 4 years prior to the VS20 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the LX3 scores against the VS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Pentax VS20

 LX3 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic LX3

 VS20 LX3 
ReleasedJanuary 2012November 2008More recent by 39 months

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Pentax VS20

 LX3 VS20 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX3 enjoys outer dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 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).

See the Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the LX3 against the VS20.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX3 and VS20 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the LX3 and VS20.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX3 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax VS20 will show extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older LX3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
40
manual focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography details
Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
60
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than others in class (235g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
52
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Panasonic LX3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-11-04 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 44.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-60mm (2.5x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-2.8 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.5 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format - 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 lbs) 235g (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" 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 39 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 94 not tested
Other
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $449 $106