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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 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
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic S3 and Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is very close and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S3 was released 12 months prior to the VS20 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the S3 matches up against the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax VS20

 S3 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic S3

 VS20 S3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012January 2011Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax VS20

 S3 VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S3 comes with external measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic S3 and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the S3 against the VS20.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S3 and VS20 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and VS20.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax VS20 to result in greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older S3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
35
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography features
Pentax VS20 Travel photography features
68
lighter than average in class (117g)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than average in class (235g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
47
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic S3
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
30
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV -
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, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure 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 (30fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 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 117 grams (0.26 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $110 $106