Pentax VS20

Pentax VS20 is Pentax's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera first announced on January of 2012. The camera uses a 16MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The VS20 places at #173 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all around #826 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to check our Smart camera finder to see camera rankings based on your customized factors.

The following is a graph of different criteria used in the scoring system.

You can view the VS20 from several angles in the gallery underneath.

Here is a collection of pros and cons of the Pentax VS20 based on aspects that are oftentimes viewed as necessary in a digital camera.

The sensor dimension in the Pentax VS20 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter may cause cropping.

Photography Glossary

The CCD sensor boasts 16 megapixels and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW format is not saved therefore you have less margin for error.

The picture below shows the VS20's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The VS20 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is displayed in green.

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To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Pentax VS20 has a weight of 0.52 lb (235 gr or 8.29 ounces) and features exterior dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr so the Pentax VS20 is lighter compared to its rivals.

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The following is a visual of the Pentax VS20 beside a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its size.

The top view directly below will show you the button design on the VS20.

The VS20 has got a built in lens giving a focal range of 28-560mm giving it a 20.0 x zoom which is ideal and can allow you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 28mm, the lens will have an aperture of f3.1 and that is quite sluggish and not the best in low light events and you may find it hard to capture a shallow depth of field. You will probably also have to increase your ISO setting which results in noisy images. For the long end, 560mm is exceptional zoom and comes to f4.8 making it fairly sluggish and you will have to use slower shutter speeds.

The VS20 has the following connectivity:

• USB Yes
• Wireless Yes

Cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You can transfer images and oftentimes change settings without connecting straight with the camera.

Several apps also provide a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external display. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery using the USB port.

The maximum video quality in the Pentax VS20 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is terrible by today's standards. You should target at least FUll HD quality for good video. The body doesn't feature a mic and headphone socket which means that you have got zero control over your sound. It is probably best to take a look at a different camera in case you want decent sound in your videos.

There is no weather proofing for the Pentax VS20 so you have to be cautious in rainy or dusty conditions.

The Pentax VS20 houses a 3" fixed screen with a resolution of 460k dots.

Please note that the screen offers no touch support.

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The ViewFinder specs regarding Pentax VS20 are as follows:

• ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be rather beneficial for bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Pentax VS20 has the capability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2500 seconds.

Pentax VS20 boasts just in-built flash without external flash ability.

Pentax VS20 boasts only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster and exact compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.

It boasts 3 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for subjects that move. Pentax VS20 has got manual focusing when needed for low light conditions or you want more exact focusing control.

The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the highest possible (600) battery life for this class of cameras.

Below is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth

Fujifilm HS35EXR
VS20 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR600 yesnono

Nikon B500
VS20 vs B500600 nonoyes

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Nikon L840
VS20 vs L840590 noyesno

Panasonic FZ200
VS20 vs FZ200540 yesnono

Leica V-Lux 4
VS20 vs V-Lux 4540 yesnono

The following illustration shows a overview of the Pentax VS20 for different kinds of photography. To find out more, browse to the specific section below.

The Pentax VS20 gets a rating of 36 which is subpar, and means the camera is not very good for portrait photography. Taking portrait images favors greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW files plus the ability to utilize external lighting.

Getting a above average rating of 61, the Pentax VS20 is a fine fit to use in street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of picture quality and portability.

A subpar sports photography rating of 44 suggests the Pentax VS20 is not very good for taking photos of sports. A camera needs fantastic focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

Size is very crucial in getting a travel camera. On the whole, the Pentax VS20 gets a above average 68 for a travel camera which makes it a good pick to take with you on your vacations.

For anyone looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most essential factor will be image quality. The Pentax VS20 at it's reasonable score of 47 for a landscape camera is somewhat acceptable among it's competitors.

A camera for vlogging should really have a moving display screen, mic port and ideally IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Pentax VS20 is not very good for vlogging as it receives a subpar rating of 30.

If you are searching for alternatives to the VS20, here is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall into the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart just below provides you an overview of the VS20 compared to it's highest ranking rivals suggested earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you may see as alternate options. To browse through a detailed comparison, click the "compare" link.