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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
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
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-420 and Olympus VG-120, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and VG-120 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was brought out 3 years prior to the VG-120 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short view of how the E-420 grades against the VG-120 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-420 VG-120 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-420

 VG-120 E-420 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2008More modern by 30 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus VG-120

 E-420 VG-120 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has got outside measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 and Olympus VG-120 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 against the VG-120.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and VG-120 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and VG-120.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-420 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will give more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography details
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography features
Olympus VG-120 Street photography features
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (426g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
48
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography highlights
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery life (500 per charge)
26
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (426g)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery life (500 per charge)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery life (500 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
36
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (160 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
28
relatively wide (26mm)
features face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus E-420Olympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus VG-120
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2008-06-23 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS 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 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lb) 120 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 160 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 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 One One
Pricing at release $999 $190