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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46
Pentax MX-1 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 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 MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax VS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the MX-1 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the MX-1 (1/1.7") and VS20 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The MX-1 was brought out 18 months later than the VS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the MX-1 scores against the VS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax VS20

 MX-1 VS20 
LaunchedJuly 2013January 2012More recent by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax MX-1

 VS20 MX-1 

Common features in the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax VS20

 MX-1 VS20 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax MX-1 enjoys external dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Pentax VS20 has dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax MX-1 and Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the MX-1 against the VS20.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the MX-1 and VS20 is 84 and 90 respectively.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The visual here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the MX-1 and VS20.

To sum up, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The MX-1 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax VS20 will show greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher MX-1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
36
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Street photography factors
Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Travel photography details
Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
61
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (391g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors (235 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
Pentax VS20 Vlogging details
33
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition (391g)
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Pentax MX-1 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax MX-1 and Pentax VS20
 Pentax MX-1Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax MX-1 Pentax Optio VS20
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-07-01 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD with AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 391 grams (0.86 lb) 235 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 208 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model D-Li-106 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $106