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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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
  • Released January 2012
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS5 was announced 19 months before the VS20 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the ZS5 matches up against the VS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax VS20

 ZS5 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic ZS5

 VS20 ZS5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2010Fresher by 19 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax VS20

 ZS5 VS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS5 offers exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and 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).

Compare the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS5 compared to the VS20.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and VS20 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specs. The visual here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS5 and VS20.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Pentax VS20 to give more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older ZS5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
27
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography factors
Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography information
Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
63
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography features
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography features
33
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax Optio VS20
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-06-16 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II -
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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 214 gr (0.47 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 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 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 1 1
Cost at release $300 $106