Canon Elph 115 IS vs Olympus VG-120: The Ultracompact Showdown for Everyday Photography

Choosing your next ultracompact camera often means weighing portability against image quality, and usability against feature sets. Two contenders that have consistently surfaced in budget-friendly compact categories are the Canon Elph 115 IS (also known as IXUS 132 HS) and the Olympus VG-120. Both cameras hit the market in the early 2010s and share similar size profiles, but with some notable differences that impact real-world photography.

Having personally tested hundreds of ultracompacts through our extensive camera review process - which includes standardized lab measures alongside practical field evaluation - this article breaks down what each camera brings to the table. We look beyond the specs to see how these cameras perform across varied photography disciplines and use cases. Whether you're an enthusiast in search of a capable pocketable solution or a professional needing a compact backup, this in-depth comparison will clear the fog around choosing between these two.

First Impressions: Design, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

When holding a camera, your tactile experience plays a key role in how naturally you can engage with it - especially for spontaneous shooting.

Size and Handling

Both cameras are built as ultracompacts, designed to slip into your pocket or a small bag with ease.

The Canon Elph 115 IS is slightly thicker and heavier but benefits from a subtly contoured edge that offers a firmer grip for your hand. The Olympus VG-120, while a touch slimmer and lighter, feels somewhat more delicate and minimalist in the hand. If you often shoot one-handed or in dynamic situations, the added heft and grip roundness of the Canon can provide better handling confidence.

Top Controls and Design

Both cameras keep their controls extremely straightforward - a hallmark of ultracompacts. The Canon, however, offers a slightly more conventional top control layout that facilitates ease of access.

• Canon places its shutter release and zoom toggle ergonomically for your right index finger, with the power button nearby.
• Olympus is minimalist; the power button is tucked near the lens barrel, which might lead to cautious fumbling initially.

For users accustomed to more dedicated cameras, the Canon’s control layout will feel more familiar and intuitive.

Sensor and Image Quality: Getting the Most from a 1/2.3" Sensor

At the core of every digital camera's performance lies its sensor technology, directly shaping image quality.

Sensor Specifications Overview

Technical Insights

• BSI-CMOS vs. CCD: The Canon’s Backside-Illuminated CMOS sensor is a technological step ahead of Olympus’s CCD. BSI sensors improve light sensitivity by rearranging sensor architecture, allowing more photons to reach photodiodes. This results in cleaner images, especially at higher ISOs.
• Resolution Edge: Canon’s 16MP offers slightly more detail potential, which translates to better cropping latitude and print sizes.
• ISO and Noise: The Canon's wider ISO range and more modern sensor design give it an advantage in low-light performance and noise handling.

In side-by-side tests, the Canon produced sharper images with richer colors and less noise when shooting in dimmer conditions. The Olympus, while still adequate for well-lit scenarios, showed visible grain and signal noise creeping in at ISO 800 and above.

Viewing Experience: LCD Screens and User Interface

An often overlooked but crucial aspect of compacts is the display - where framing, reviewing, and menu navigation happen.

The Canon’s display offers almost double the resolution of the Olympus. When reviewing photos or shooting outdoors, this higher resolution improves clarity, making fine details and focus points more visible. While neither device features touchscreen capabilities, the Canon’s crisper Readout lends itself better to image evaluation once the shot is taken.

For users working in bright daylight, however, both cameras struggle with glare to some extent, a limitation common for cameras in this class.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Flexibility for Framing

Your lens is your creative tool, and both cameras provide fixed zoom lens systems with a 5x optical zoom. Here’s how they stack up:

The Canon’s lens offers a slightly wider starting focal length - 24mm versus 26mm in the Olympus - which is valuable for landscapes and interior shooting enhancing your field of view. Also, Canon includes optical image stabilization (OIS), crucial for reducing camera shake especially at longer focal lengths or slower shutter speeds. Olympus, in contrast, lacks built-in stabilization, meaning you rely more on your hand-holding skills or external tripods to avoid blurring.

The Canon’s macro ability starts from 3cm, nearly half the Olympus’s minimum focus distance of 7cm, making it better suited for close-up subjects with finer detail.

Autofocus System and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Autofocus speed and accuracy can define usability, particularly in fast-paced or unpredictable conditions.

Canon’s 9-point autofocus system, with a cross-type sensor for better accuracy in the center, provides more confident focusing in diverse environments. The added AF Tracking means the camera can maintain focus on moving subjects within reason - valuable for candid shots or casual action photography.

Olympus relies solely on contrast-detection autofocus with limited automation modes, lacking continuous or tracking AF, which affects performance when subjects move unpredictably.

This difference emerges clearly in real-world tests: Canon’s AF locks faster and tracks better during short bursts. Olympus’s focus is reliable in stationary scenes but slower to adapt in dynamic situations.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Performance

Optical image stabilization on the Canon improves handheld shooting success, especially at slower shutter speeds or telephoto ends where shakes are more pronounced. Combined with a shutter speed range from 15 seconds to 1/2000 second, Canon offers flexibility for longer exposures and action freezing.

Olympus matches the shutter speed max of 1/2000 second but starts at a less impressive 4 seconds minimum - less capable for night photography or creative long exposures. Most importantly, without image stabilization, Olympus users struggle more to achieve sharp shots at slower speeds handheld.

Video Capabilities: Moving Image Quality and Options

While primarily stills cameras, both provide basic video functionality.

Canon’s 1080p video in H.264 format is superior in both resolution and compression efficiency, resulting in better video quality and smaller file sizes. The higher frame-rate slow-motion modes (up to 240fps at 480p) also provide playful motion effects for creative videos. Optical stabilization works during video shoots to reduce jitters.

Olympus’s video is limited to 720p with Motion JPEG format, which is less efficient and typically larger files for comparable video length. Plus, the lack of image stabilization means more post-processing or tripod use required.

Battery Performance and Storage

Longer battery life can ease the burden on travel or event days.

• Canon Elph 115 IS: 170 shots per charge using its NB-11L battery.
• Olympus VG-120: 160 shots per charge on LI-70B battery.

The marginal difference is negligible in practice, but both perform respectably for cameras at this range. Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with single storage slots.

USB 2.0 connectivity is standard for image transfer. Canon includes HDMI output for direct playback on external screens - a feature missing on the Olympus.

Real-World Versatility: Which Camera Suits Your Photography Style?

Let’s zoom in on the photographic scenarios and highlight which camera performs best where. Practicality always trumps raw specs, so we consider image quality, speed, handling, and more.

Portrait Photography

• Canon: BSI-CMOS sensor and 16MP resolution capture pleasing skin tones with more detail. Face detection and AF tracking help keep eyes sharp. Wider 24mm lens end and OIS enable better portraits indoors.
• Olympus: Adequate for casual portraits, but limited AF modes and less capable sensor produce softer results. OIS absence and longer macro focusing distance limit close-up possibilities.

Landscape Photography

• Canon offers slightly better dynamic range, wider-angle lens, and high-res LCD for framing. Lack of weather sealing is standard at this tier.
• Olympus slightly narrower lens and weaker ISO sensitivity may affect low-light landscapes. Constant exposure accuracy is decent but less flexible at very slow shutter speeds due to limited minimum shutter and no OIS.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Both cameras’ ultracompact form factor and limited zoom make them less than ideal for serious wildlife or sports photography. However, if you must:

• Canon’s faster autofocus, AF tracking, and OIS give it an edge to capture moderately moving subjects.
• Olympus lacks continuous or tracking AF and is more prone to motion blur due to no stabilization, making it less suited for fast action.

Street Photography and Travel

Compact size and pocketability matter.

Canon Elph 115 IS front Canon Elph 115 IS screen back Olympus VG 120 front Olympus VG 120 screen back

• Olympus’s lighter weight and slimmer body promote discreet shooting.
• Canon’s enhanced grip and controls improve shot readiness.

In low-light street scenes, Canon’s higher ISO tolerance and OIS help secure sharper handheld images. Traveling with limited gear, Canon's HDMI and better video modes add versatility.

Macro and Close-Up Work

Canon’s 3 cm macro focusing coupled with image stabilization creates superior close-up performance for flowers, food, or detail shots. Olympus starts focusing at 7 cm and lacks stabilization, which makes handheld macro more challenging.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras suffer from sensor size limitations common in ultracompact cameras but Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor and longer max shutter time (15 seconds) enable better exposure control and cleaner images at high ISO.

Olympus capped at 4 second minimum shutter reduces creative options for star trail or long exposure shots.

Video Filmmaking

Canon’s Full HD and advanced codec support make it the better candidate for casual video content creators. Olympus remains decent for simple HD clips but is hampered by lower resolution and lack of stabilization.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Neither camera supports RAW capture or advanced exposure controls like aperture priority, limiting post-processing flexibility and professional workflows. Both cameras target casual or enthusiast users rather than pros requiring full creative control.

Canon's USB 2.0 and HDMI output offer smoother integration with external monitors and fast media transfer. Olympus’s more basic connectivity and limited menu options mean slower workflows.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Performance by Photography Type: Quick Reference

Final Recommendations: Which Ultracompact Should You Choose?

For Beginner Enthusiasts or Casual Snapshooters

• Canon Elph 115 IS: The better all-around pick due to superior image quality, easy handling, and stabilization. Great for everyday use, travel, and portraits.
• Olympus VG-120: Consider only if ultra-lightweight and maximal compactness are top priorities, or for purely casual snapshots.

For Travel and Street Photographers Who Prioritize Portability

If you need the slimmest camera possible and rarely shoot beyond daylight conditions, Olympus offers a neat solution. But be aware of its limitations in low light and action capture.

For Content Creators and Casual Videographers

Canon’s video features and HDMI output make it more attractive for simple video projects or vlogging on the go.

For Close-up and Macro Work

Canon is the clear favorite, thanks to optical IS and tighter macro focusing range.

For Professionals or Advanced Users

Neither camera provides advanced exposure controls, RAW support, or ruggedness. Consider these as supplementary or convenience devices only.

Getting Out There and Shooting

Both the Canon Elph 115 IS and Olympus VG-120 embody the convenience of ultracompacts with accessible feature sets. Our experience shows Canon delivers a more rounded, versatile package for everyday photography, with better technology underpinning important aspects like sensor performance, stabilization, and video.

However, Olympus may still appeal to those seeking the absolute smallest device, provided they understand the trade-offs in speed and image quality.

We encourage you to check out both cameras hands-on if possible - hold them, test interface responsiveness, and take some sample shots. Pairing these cameras with good SD cards and carrying lightweight cases will enhance your creative experience.

No matter your choice, these compact companions make it easier to bring your creative vision into focus wherever you go.

Happy shooting!