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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-520
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-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-510 and Olympus VG-120, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and VG-120 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-510 was introduced 4 years prior to the VG-120 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-510 scores vs the VG-120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-510 VG-120 
Focus manually More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-510

 VG-120 E-510 
IntroducedJanuary 2011November 2007More recent by 38 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Olympus VG-120

 E-510 VG-120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 has physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-510 and Olympus VG-120 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-510 compared to the VG-120.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and VG-120 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and VG-120.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-510 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (10 megapixels)
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography details
Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (490g)
screen is fixed
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-510
Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10MP)
26
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors in class (490g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery pack (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-510
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
36
rather wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (160 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging advice
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
28
rather wide (26mm)
supports face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus E-510Olympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-510 Olympus VG-120
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-510 -
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2007-11-23 2011-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 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)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 gr (1.08 lb) 120 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 442 not tested
Other
Battery life - 160 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $550 $190