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Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV 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
Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR Digital III
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Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Pentax VS20 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Ricoh. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and GR Digital IV (10MP) and the VS20 (1/2.3") and GR Digital IV (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The VS20 was announced 5 months after the GR Digital IV and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the VS20 scores vs the GR Digital IV with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 VS20 GR Digital IV 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Pentax VS20

 GR Digital IV VS20 
Screen resolution1230k460kCrisper screen (+770k dot)

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Ricoh GR Digital IV

 VS20 GR Digital IV 
RevealedJanuary 2012September 2011Same generation
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax VS20 features outer measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Ricoh GR Digital IV has dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax VS20 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the VS20 compared to the GR Digital IV.

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and GR Digital IV is 90 and 92 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The pic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VS20 and GR Digital IV.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VS20 using its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax VS20 will render greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
Ricoh GR Digital IV Portrait photography highlights
36
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
41
you can focus manually
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax VS20
Street photography with Ricoh GR Digital IV
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography information
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography factors
Ricoh GR Digital IV Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competition (235g)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
built-in flash
good max aperture (f1.9)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
53
you can focus manually
good max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (390 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Ricoh GR Digital IV
30
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
29
good max aperture (f1.9)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Pentax VS20 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
 Pentax Optio VS20Ricoh GR Digital IV
General Information
Brand Pentax Ricoh
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-25 2011-09-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
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 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/1.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 1 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 190g (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 life - 390 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 DB65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $106 $599