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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is pretty close and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ3 was unveiled 12 months after the VS20 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ3 grades vs the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax VS20

 SZ3 VS20 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012More modern by 12 months

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic SZ3

 VS20 SZ3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax VS20

 SZ3 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ3 offers exterior measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SZ3 against the VS20.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and VS20 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ3 and VS20.

Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you should always factor the age of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ3 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
30
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
36
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
Street photography with Pentax VS20
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography features
Pentax VS20 Travel photography features
71
lighter than average (126 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than competitors (235g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging factors
Pentax VS20 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
30
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 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
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.10 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 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 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 gr (0.28 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 250 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $150 $106