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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 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 HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed March 2016
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Overview

The following is a in depth assessment of the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the HX80 (18MP) is very close and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was announced 5 years prior to the HX80 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the VS20 scores against the HX80 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony HX80

 VS20 HX80 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Pentax VS20

 HX80 VS20 
RevealedMarch 2016January 2012Newer by 50 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX80

 VS20 HX80 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony HX80 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the VS20 compared to the HX80.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and HX80 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and HX80.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX80 to render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged VS20 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Sony HX80
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
39
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography details
Sony HX80 Sports photography details
44
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
76
better than average battery power (390 shots)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX80 Landscape photography advice
47
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
49
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Sony HX80
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
75
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have external microphone socket
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony HX80
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-25 2016-03-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 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 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 gr (0.52 lbs) 245 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 390 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $106 $368