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Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the A3100 IS (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is relatively close and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was announced 12 months earlier than the VG-120 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon A3100 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A3100 IS matches up versus the VG-120 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Olympus VG-120

 A3100 IS VG-120 

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Canon A3100 IS

 VG-120 A3100 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2011January 2010More recent by 12 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Olympus VG-120

 A3100 IS VG-120 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon A3100 IS has got outer measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the A3100 IS and the VG-120.

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A3100 IS and VG-120 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3100 IS and VG-120.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus VG-120 to render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older A3100 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3100 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Street photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
48
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (160 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Travel photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
62
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
36
pretty wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (160 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic port
28
pretty wide (26mm)
supports face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
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Canon A3100 IS vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Olympus VG-120
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISOlympus VG-120
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Olympus VG-120
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2010-01-05 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 3cm 7cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165g (0.36 lb) 120g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 life - 160 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-8L LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $159 $190