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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Replacement is Olympus E-3
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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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-1 and Olympus VG-160, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and VG-160 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and VG-160 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-1 was revealed 9 years before the VG-160 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-1 scores against the VG-160 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus VG-160

 E-1 VG-160 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Olympus E-1

 VG-160 E-1 
IntroducedJanuary 2012November 2003More recent by 98 months
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kClearer screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus VG-160

 E-1 VG-160 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 has got physical measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Olympus VG-160 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 and Olympus VG-160 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-1 against the VG-160.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and VG-160 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The graphic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and VG-160.

To sum up, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-1 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus VG-160 will provide more detail because of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Portrait photography camera
46
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (5 megapixels)
33
MP count good (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography advice
Olympus VG-160 Street photography advice
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
lighter than competition in class (735g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
lighter than average (125 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
26
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (165 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
47
lighter than competition in class (735g)
weather sealing
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (5MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average (125 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery pack (165 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-1
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-160
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
no Time Lapse mode
36
decently wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery pack (165 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-1
Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
9
lack of video recording
30
decently wide (26mm)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than average (125 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus VG-160
 Olympus E-1Olympus VG-160
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-1 Olympus VG-160
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2003-11-29 2012-01-10
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 125 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 165 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,700 $90