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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 front
Portability
92
Imaging
50
Features
44
Overall
47

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Key Specs

Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 QX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 179g - 63 x 63 x 56mm
  • Revealed September 2013
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Lens-style by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the QX100 (20MP) is relatively similar but the VS20 (1/2.3") and QX100 (1") come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The VS20 was released 19 months before the QX100 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the VS20 matches up vs the QX100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony QX100

 VS20 QX100 
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX100 over the Pentax VS20

 QX100 VS20 
RevealedSeptember 2013January 2012Fresher by 19 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony QX100

 VS20 QX100 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax VS20 comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony QX100 has dimensions of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") and a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check out the Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the VS20 versus the QX100.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VS20 and QX100 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VS20 and QX100.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VS20 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony QX100 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older VS20 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX100 as a Portrait photography camera
36
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
52
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography advice
Sony QX100 Street photography advice
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
71
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
boasts touch focus
fixed screen
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography information
Sony QX100 Sports photography information
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
55
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
Sony QX100 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
69
boasts touch focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX100 Landscape photography highlights
47
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse function
54
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
small screen ( inch)
manual exposure not possible
has no RAW files
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
Sony QX100 Vlogging highlights
30
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
38
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony QX100
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Introduced 2012-01-25 2013-09-05
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
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 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of display 460k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.80 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 lbs) 179 grams (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 63 x 63 x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2")
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 - 200 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $106 $268