Pentax VS20 vs Sony A7R III

Here is a in depth review of the Pentax VS20 versus Sony A7R III, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and A7R III (42MP) and the VS20 (1/2.3") and A7R III (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The VS20 was revealed 6 years earlier than the A7R III and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A7R III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the VS20 grades against the A7R III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio VS20 and Sony Alpha A7R III. The full galleries are provided at Pentax VS20 Gallery and Sony A7R III Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony A7R III has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 657 grams (1.45 lbs).

Look at the Pentax VS20 versus Sony A7R III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the VS20 against the A7R III.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and A7R III is 90 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the VS20 and A7R III.

As you can see, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VS20 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A7R III will resolve extra detail because of its extra 26 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older VS20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.