Pentax VS20 vs Sony A550

Here is a in depth assessment of the Pentax VS20 versus Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the VS20 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The VS20 was released 2 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the VS20 scores against the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio VS20 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The complete galleries are available at Pentax VS20 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax VS20 has external dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax VS20 versus Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the VS20 against the A550.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and A550 is 90 and 63 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and A550.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VS20 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax VS20 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent VS20 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.