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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Pentax X70 front
Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Launched March 2009
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Pentax VS20 versus Pentax X70, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are created by Pentax. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and X70 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was unveiled 2 years later than the X70 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VS20 grades versus the X70 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax X70

 VS20 X70 
LaunchedJanuary 2012March 2009Fresher by 36 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Pentax VS20

 X70 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Pentax X70

 VS20 X70 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax VS20 features external dimensions 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 X70 has dimensions of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax VS20 versus Pentax X70 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the VS20 compared to the X70.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and X70 is 90 and 71 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and X70.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Pentax VS20 to provide you with more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher VS20 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Pentax X70
36
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax X70 as a Sports photography camera
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
50
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
Pentax X70 Travel photography information
68
lighter than competition (235g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
Pentax X70 Landscape photography details
47
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
35
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax X70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Pentax X70
 Pentax Optio VS20Pentax X70
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Pentax X70
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-25 2009-03-02
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235g (0.52 pounds) 410g (0.90 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5")
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-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $106 $200