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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 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 QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Pentax VS20 and Sony QX30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Lens-style by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is fairly similar and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was launched 3 years earlier than the QX30 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the VS20 grades against the QX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony QX30

 VS20 QX30 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution460k0kClearer display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Pentax VS20

 QX30 VS20 
RevealedSeptember 2014January 2012Fresher by 31 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony QX30

 VS20 QX30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax VS20 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax VS20 and Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the VS20 compared to the QX30.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VS20 and QX30 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The photograph underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the VS20 and QX30.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony QX30 to offer more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older VS20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
Sony QX30 Portrait photography details
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
38
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography information
Sony QX30 Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
Sony QX30 Sports photography highlights
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
Sony QX30 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Sony QX30
47
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen ( inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax VS20
Vlogging with Sony QX30
30
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (235 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony QX30
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Released 2012-01-25 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch -
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 2.80 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft None
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 235 grams (0.52 pounds) 193 grams (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI122 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $106 $348