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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-30 was announced 21 months prior to the VG-120 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-30 scores versus the VG-120 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-30 VG-120 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-30

 VG-120 E-30 
IntroducedJanuary 2011March 2009More recent by 21 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus VG-120

 E-30 VG-120 
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 comes with exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-30 versus the VG-120.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and VG-120 is 60 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The photograph below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus VG-120 will result in more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
33
good megapixels (14MP)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
26
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery (160 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (750 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
62
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery (160 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography advice
52
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
36
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery (160 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
18
no video shooting
28
relatively wide (26mm)
includes face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus E-30Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus VG-120
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-03-24 2011-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 695 grams (1.53 pounds) 120 grams (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots 160 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,299 $190