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Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24
Pentax Optio E90 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Key Specs

Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E90 (10MP) and VS20 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The E90 was manufactured 24 months prior to the VS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E90 matches up vs the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Pentax VS20

 E90 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax E90

 VS20 E90 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2010More recent by 24 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax E90 and Pentax VS20

 E90 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax E90 has got external measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 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).

Take a look at the Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E90 compared to the VS20.

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E90 and VS20 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through specifications. The graphic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E90 and VS20.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Pentax VS20 to give you extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E90 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax E90 Portrait photography features
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography features
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
36
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax E90 as a Street photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax E90
Sports photography with Pentax VS20
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax E90 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than competition (235g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax E90 Landscape photography details
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax E90
Vlogging with Pentax VS20
22
wide angle not good (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
30
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
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Pentax E90 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax E90 and Pentax VS20
 Pentax Optio E90Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax Optio E90 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-01-25 2012-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime -
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 surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 32-95mm (3.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range 6cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 2.80 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 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 file format Motion JPEG 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 None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 145g (0.32 pounds) 235g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 2 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $100 $106