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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 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
  • Launched January 2012
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax VS20, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Pentax. The resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the K-500 (APS-C) and VS20 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The K-500 was released 23 months later than the VS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the K-500 scores against the VS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax VS20

 K-500 VS20 
LaunchedNovember 2013January 2012Fresher by 23 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax K-500

 VS20 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax VS20

 K-500 VS20 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-500 has got external dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the K-500 compared to the VS20.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and VS20 is 64 and 90 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-500 and VS20.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The K-500 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF simpler. The more recent K-500 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
67
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than average in class (235g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography advice
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (710 shots)
47
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
30
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax VS20
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-11-27 2012-01-25
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 51600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 3
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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 Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 646 grams (1.42 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
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 rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 images -
Form of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $106