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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Samsung HZ30W front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W 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
Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally Known as WB600
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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Pentax VS20 and Samsung HZ30W, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Pentax and Samsung. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and HZ30W (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was revealed 2 years later than the HZ30W and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VS20 scores vs the HZ30W when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Samsung HZ30W

 VS20 HZ30W 
RevealedJanuary 2012January 2010Fresher by 25 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Pentax VS20

 HZ30W VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Samsung HZ30W

 VS20 HZ30W 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax VS20 has got outside 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 Samsung HZ30W has measurements of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Pentax VS20 and Samsung HZ30W in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the VS20 and the HZ30W.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and HZ30W is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the VS20 and HZ30W.

Plainly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax VS20 to offer extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The newer VS20 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography factors
Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography factors
36
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
29
focusing manually
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
Samsung HZ30W Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung HZ30W as a Sports photography camera
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
42
long zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
Samsung HZ30W Travel photography information
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
63
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (360mm)
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Samsung HZ30W
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
43
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Samsung HZ30W
30
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
30
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Samsung HZ30W
 Pentax Optio VS20Samsung HZ30W
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Samsung HZ30W
Alternate name - WB600
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-25 2010-01-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 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 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-360mm (15.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 16 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.80 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235g (0.52 lb) 245g (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $106 $280