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Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 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 W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax VS20 versus Sony W230, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was released 2 years later than the W230 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VS20 scores vs the W230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Sony W230

 VS20 W230 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2009More recent by 36 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Pentax VS20

 W230 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Sony W230

 VS20 W230 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Pentax VS20 enjoys outside measurements 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 W230 has specifications of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Pentax VS20 versus Sony W230 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the VS20 against the W230.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VS20 and W230 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The visual below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the VS20 and W230.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax VS20 to produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer VS20 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
Portrait photography with Sony W230
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography info
Sony W230 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax VS20 Sports photography factors
Sony W230 Sports photography factors
44
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography details
Sony W230 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Sony W230
47
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
36
manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging advice
Sony W230 Vlogging advice
30
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Pentax VS20 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Sony W230
 Pentax Optio VS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-25 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 235g (0.52 lbs) 156g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $106 $180