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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

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
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced February 2010
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Pentax VS20 and Pentax W90, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and W90 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VS20 was revealed 24 months later than the W90 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the VS20 matches up against the W90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax W90

 VS20 W90 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2010Fresher by 24 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Pentax VS20

 W90 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Pentax W90

 VS20 W90 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax VS20 has external measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

See the Pentax VS20 and Pentax W90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the VS20 vs the W90.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and W90 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by looking at specs. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the VS20 and W90.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Pentax VS20 to give you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent VS20 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Pentax W90
36
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography features
Pentax W90 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
environment proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography details
Pentax W90 Sports photography details
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
24
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax VS20
Travel photography with Pentax W90
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
64
environment proof
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
Pentax W90 Landscape photography factors
47
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
37
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
environment proof
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
Pentax W90 Vlogging highlights
30
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
25
pretty wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Pentax W90
 Pentax Optio VS20Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Pentax Optio W90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-01-25 2010-02-24
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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 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 format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 pounds) 164 grams (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI122 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $106 $120