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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
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
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax VS20, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively similar but the K-30 (APS-C) and VS20 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The K-30 was launched 10 months after the VS20 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the K-30 scores versus the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax VS20

 K-30 VS20 
RevealedOctober 2012January 2012More modern by 10 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax K-30

 VS20 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax VS20

 K-30 VS20 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-30 provides outside dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has specifications of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax VS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the K-30 compared to the VS20.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-30 and VS20 is 63 and 90 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and VS20.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The K-30 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF simpler. The newer K-30 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
36
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography information
Pentax VS20 Street photography information
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-30
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
60
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (410 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than others (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography information
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
47
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
30
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax VS20
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-10-29 2012-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Prime M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 3
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 gr (1.43 pounds) 235 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1129 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $525 $106