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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 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
  • Announced January 2012
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A350
  • Newer Model is Sony A390
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the VS20 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The VS20 was brought out 2 years after the A380 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the VS20 matches up versus the A380 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony A380

 VS20 A380 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2009Newer by 30 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Pentax VS20

 A380 VS20 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony A380

 VS20 A380 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax VS20 offers physical dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony A380 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the VS20 vs the A380.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and A380 is 90 and 68 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and A380.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The VS20 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax VS20 will produce more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern VS20 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
Sony A380 Portrait photography info
36
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
71
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax VS20
Street photography with Sony A380
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax VS20
Sports photography with Sony A380
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
bad battery (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
Sony A380 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
53
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (500 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A380 Landscape photography highlights
47
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
bad battery (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Sony A380
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
9
no video
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony A380
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-01-25 2009-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.8 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 235 gr (0.52 pounds) 519 gr (1.14 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 614
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI122 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $106 $899