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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Pentax VS20 versus Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the VS20 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") use different sensor dimensions.

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The VS20 was brought out 3 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the VS20 matches up against the Q-S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax Q-S1

 VS20 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Pentax VS20

 Q-S1 VS20 
RevealedAugust 2014January 2012Fresher by 30 months

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Pentax Q-S1

 VS20 Q-S1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 enjoys outside dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Pentax VS20 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the VS20 against the Q-S1.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and Q-S1 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The visual underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and Q-S1.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VS20 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax VS20 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older VS20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography information
36
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
manual focus
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (203 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography factors
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography info
68
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
lighter than others in class (203 grams)
flash built-in
not so great battery (250 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery (250 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging advice
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging advice
30
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (203 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax Optio VS20Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax Optio VS20 Pentax Q-S1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-25 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.8 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 235 gr (0.52 lb) 203 gr (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life - 250 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI122 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $106 $250