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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was manufactured 4 years prior to the HX90V and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the VS20 scores versus the HX90V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony HX90V

 VS20 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Pentax VS20

 HX90V VS20 
IntroducedApril 2015January 2012Fresher by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony HX90V

 VS20 HX90V 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax VS20 has physical measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony HX90V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V in our newest 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 use at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the VS20 against the HX90V.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and HX90V is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the VS20 and HX90V.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX90V to produce more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older VS20 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Sony HX90V
36
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography features
Sony HX90V Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography advice
Sony HX90V Sports photography advice
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (360 shots)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax VS20
Travel photography with Sony HX90V
68
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
76
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (245 grams)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX90V Landscape photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
53
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
better than average battery power (360 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX90V as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
75
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no external microphone jack
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony HX90V
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-25 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
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 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical 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 - 360 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $106 $440