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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
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
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-120, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and VG-120 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-500 was brought out 6 years earlier than the VG-120 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-500 grades against the VG-120 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-500 VG-120 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-500

 VG-120 E-500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011October 2005Newer by 63 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k215kSharper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-120

 E-500 VG-120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 enjoys physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-120 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 vs the VG-120.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and VG-120 is 70 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over specifications. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and VG-120.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus VG-120 will offer you greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography details
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (8MP)
33
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
48
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
26
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
52
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
62
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (160 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
36
relatively wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
28
relatively wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus E-500Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus VG-120
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2005-10-21 2011-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD 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 8MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal 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 size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 215k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 120g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 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 - 160 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $600 $190