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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Released January 2012
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released January 2006
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Pentax VS20 and Pentax ist DL2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are offered by Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the VS20 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The VS20 was announced 6 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the VS20 grades vs the ist DL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Pentax ist DL2

 VS20 ist DL2 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2006More modern by 73 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kCrisper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Pentax VS20

 ist DL2 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Pentax ist DL2

 VS20 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial 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 ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax VS20 has outside dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Look at the Pentax VS20 and Pentax ist DL2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the VS20 vs the ist DL2.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and ist DL2 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and ist DL2.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VS20 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax VS20 will provide you with more detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer VS20 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography information
36
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors (235g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
lighter than others in class (565g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DL2
47
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (235 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
22
lighter than others in class (565 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video ( resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax VS20 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Pentax ist DL2
 Pentax Optio VS20Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Pentax ist DL2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-01-25 2006-01-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 5
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.8 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 460k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235g (0.52 lb) 565g (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery model D-LI122 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $106 -