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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-3 II
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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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax VS20, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and VS20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The K-3 was brought out 2 years later than the VS20 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the K-3 scores vs the VS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax VS20

 K-3 VS20 
RevealedApril 2014January 2012Fresher by 27 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax K-3

 VS20 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax VS20

 K-3 VS20 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-3 has got outer measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the K-3 compared to the VS20.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 and VS20 is 59 and 90 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 and VS20.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The K-3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will render more detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer K-3 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
79
manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography details
Pentax VS20 Sports photography details
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (560 shots)
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proofing
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (560 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery pack (560 shots)
47
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
30
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax VS20
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-04-10 2012-01-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6016 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 51200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 27 3
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI122
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Two 1
Retail pricing $639 $106