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Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
79
Overall
65

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is fairly similar but the VS20 (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The VS20 was manufactured 19 months earlier than the NEX-5T making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the VS20 matches up versus the NEX-5T with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony NEX-5T

 VS20 NEX-5T 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5T over the Pentax VS20

 NEX-5T VS20 
LaunchedAugust 2013January 2012Newer by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony NEX-5T

 VS20 NEX-5T 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax VS20 provides exterior measurements 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 NEX-5T has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the VS20 vs the NEX-5T.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and NEX-5T is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The pic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VS20 and NEX-5T.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The VS20 contains the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field more challenging. The more aged VS20 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography highlights
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5T Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Sports photography camera
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
68
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5T Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
77
supports touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5T
47
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging advice
30
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
73
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony NEX-5T
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-25 2013-08-27
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.8 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 235g (0.52 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1015
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI122 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $106 $400