Pentax VS20 vs Sony S950

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Pentax VS20 and Sony S950, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and S950 (10MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was announced 2 years later than the S950 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the VS20 grades against the S950 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax Optio VS20 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax VS20 Gallery & Sony S950 Gallery.

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 offers physical 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 S950 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Pentax VS20 and Sony S950 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the VS20 compared to the S950.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VS20 and S950 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The visual underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VS20 and S950.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax VS20 to deliver extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent VS20 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.