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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Introduced August 2009
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and VG-160 (14MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and VG-160 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SX120 IS was brought out 3 years before the VG-160 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX120 IS matches up against the VG-160 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Olympus VG-160

 SX120 IS VG-160 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Canon SX120 IS

 VG-160 SX120 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 29 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus VG-160

 SX120 IS VG-160 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX120 IS provides outer measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Olympus VG-160 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the SX120 IS against the VG-160.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and VG-160 is 87 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The pic below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and VG-160.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus VG-160 will offer extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography highlights
Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography highlights
33
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
33
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
Street photography with Olympus VG-160
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than average in class (285 grams)
56
lighter than competition (125 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Sports photography factors
26
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
26
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (165 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
long zoom (360mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (285 grams)
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competition (125 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (165 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
36
has manual focus
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
36
fairly wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery pack (165 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging highlights
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging highlights
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone port
more heavy than average in class (285 grams)
30
fairly wide (26mm)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Olympus VG-160
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISOlympus VG-160
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Olympus VG-160
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-19 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 7cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285g (0.63 pounds) 125g (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 165 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $249 $90