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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-30 and Olympus VG-160, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the VG-160 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and VG-160 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was unveiled 3 years before the VG-160 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-30 matches up versus the VG-160 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus VG-160

 E-30 VG-160 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Olympus E-30

 VG-160 E-30 
ReleasedJanuary 2012March 2009Newer by 34 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus VG-160

 E-30 VG-160 
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 comes with external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus VG-160 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 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 dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-30 against the VG-160.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and VG-160 is 60 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and VG-160.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus VG-160 will provide you with more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography factors
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Olympus VG-160 Street photography details
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
56
lighter than competition in class (125g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Olympus VG-160 Sports photography info
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery power (750 per charge)
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (165 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (750 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
65
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (165 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (750 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
36
rather wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery life (165 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
18
no video recording
30
rather wide (26mm)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus VG-160
 Olympus E-30Olympus VG-160
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus VG-160
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-03-24 2012-01-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range - 7cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 4.80 m
Flash settings 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 file format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 125g (0.28 lb)
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 Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 images 165 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $90