Clicky

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 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 RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Successor is Sony RX100 II
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Pentax VS20 and Sony RX100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VS20 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very well matched but the VS20 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") have different sensor sizes.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The VS20 was unveiled 7 months before the RX100 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the VS20 matches up against the RX100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony RX100

 VS20 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Pentax VS20

 RX100 VS20 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2012Newer by 7 months
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony RX100

 VS20 RX100 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. 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 RX100 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Pentax VS20 and Sony RX100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the VS20 compared to the RX100.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and RX100 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at specs. The pic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and RX100.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The VS20 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony RX100 will give you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged VS20 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
36
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
64
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax VS20
Street photography with Sony RX100
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 Sports photography factors
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
Sony RX100 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than others in class (235 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
79
lighter than competition (240g)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 Landscape photography info
47
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
74
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (235g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
38
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (240g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Pentax VS20 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony RX100
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-25 2012-08-28
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235g (0.52 lbs) 240g (0.53 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 Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI122 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $106 $448