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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Announced January 2012
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony HX300
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was unveiled 24 months prior to the HX400V 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 HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the VS20 matches up vs the HX400V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony HX400V

 VS20 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Pentax VS20

 HX400V VS20 
ReleasedFebruary 2014January 2012Fresher by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX400V

 VS20 HX400V 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 offers 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) whilst the Sony HX400V has specifications of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

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Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the VS20 against the HX400V.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and HX400V is 90 and 62 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The graphic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and HX400V.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony HX400V to show greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The older VS20 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
36
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
51
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography features
Sony HX400V Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
Sony HX400V Sports photography information
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
53
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (660 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX400V Landscape photography advice
47
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
49
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging information
Sony HX400V Vlogging information
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
29
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (660g)
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony HX400V
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-25 2014-02-12
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 lbs) 660 grams (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $106 $448