Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500
90 Imaging
39 Features
35 Overall
37
88 Imaging
34 Features
54 Overall
42
Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 Key Specs
(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
- Launched January 2012
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 24-72mm (F1.8-2.4) lens
- 386g - 114 x 63 x 29mm
- Released July 2010
- Alternative Name is EX1
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In this write-up, we are analyzing the Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and TL500 (10MP) and the VS20 (1/2.3") and TL500 (1/1.7") come with different sensor size.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe VS20 was released 19 months later than the TL500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the VS20 grades vs the TL500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio VS20 & Samsung TL500. The complete galleries are available at Pentax VS20 Gallery & Samsung TL500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Samsung TL500
| VS20 | TL500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | January 2012 | July 2010 | More recent by 19 months |
Reasons to pick Samsung TL500 over the Pentax VS20
| TL500 | VS20 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating display | |
| Display resolution | 614k | 460k | Crisper display (+154k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Easy selfies |
Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Samsung TL500
| VS20 | TL500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | More exact focusing | |||
| Display sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent display size | |
| Touch friendly display | Neither offers Touch friendly display |
Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 Physical Comparison
If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax VS20 offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Samsung TL500 has sizing of 114mm x 63mm x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 386 grams (0.85 lbs).
Check the Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the VS20 versus the TL500.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the VS20 and TL500 is 90 and 88 respectively.
Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and TL500.
Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The VS20 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax VS20 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The newer VS20 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.
Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 Screen and ViewFinder
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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung TL500 Specifications
| Pentax Optio VS20 | Samsung TL500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Manufacturer | Pentax | Samsung |
| Model | Pentax Optio VS20 | Samsung TL500 |
| Alternate name | - | EX1 |
| Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
| Launched | 2012-01-25 | 2010-07-09 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/1.7" |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 7.44 x 5.58mm |
| Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 41.5mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16MP | 10MP |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
| Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 80 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| AF touch | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 3 | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens focal range | 28-560mm (20.0x) | 24-72mm (3.0x) |
| Largest aperture | f/3.1-4.8 | f/1.8-2.4 |
| Macro focus distance | 3cm | 5cm |
| Crop factor | 5.9 | 4.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
| Display sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Resolution of display | 460k dots | 614k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Display technology | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 8 secs |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/2500 secs | 1/1500 secs |
| Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames per second | - |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash range | 2.80 m | 5.20 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow syncro, 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 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 640x480 |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | 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 | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 235g (0.52 lb) | 386g (0.85 lb) |
| Dimensions | 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") | 114 x 63 x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | not tested | 40 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 19.2 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.1 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 129 |
| Other | ||
| Battery model | D-LI122 | SLB-07A |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (10 sec, 2 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC, internal |
| Card slots | 1 | 1 |
| Retail price | $106 | $527 |