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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
35
Overall
36
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
53
Features
78
Overall
63

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Key Specs

Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A500
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is very similar but the VS20 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The VS20 was introduced 18 months later than the A560 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VS20 grades versus the A560 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony A560

 VS20 A560 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2010Fresher by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Pentax VS20

 A560 VS20 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony A560

 VS20 A560 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax VS20 enjoys physical dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony A560 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the VS20 vs the A560.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and A560 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading specifications. The graphic below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and A560.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VS20 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax VS20 will offer you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher VS20 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
Sony A560 Portrait photography info
36
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
Sony A560 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
75
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax VS20
Sports photography with Sony A560
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
Sony A560 Travel photography details
68
lighter than average in class (235g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
good battery life (1,050 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
Sony A560 Landscape photography factors
46
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (1,050 per charge)
has double storage slots
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging info
Sony A560 Vlogging info
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony A560
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-25 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-4.8 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 235 grams (0.52 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 817
Other
Battery life - 1050 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI122 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch cost $106 $650