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Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and S2100 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was brought out 2 years later than the S2100 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the VS20 grades against the S2100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony S2100

 VS20 S2100 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2010Fresher by 25 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Pentax VS20

 S2100 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony S2100

 VS20 S2100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax VS20 has outer 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 S2100 has sizing of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the VS20 vs the S2100.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VS20 and S2100 is 90 and 93 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and S2100.

Clearly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax VS20 to offer you greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher VS20 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography advice
Sony S2100 Portrait photography advice
36
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax VS20
Street photography with Sony S2100
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography highlights
Sony S2100 Sports photography highlights
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (235g)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
50
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax VS20 Landscape photography factors
Sony S2100 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
27
nice screen size (3")
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S2100 as a Vlogging camera
30
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony S2100
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-25 2010-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 1 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 235 gr (0.52 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 model D-LI122 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $106 $0