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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the 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
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus VG-120, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Olympus. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and VG-120 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-520 was revealed 3 years before the VG-120 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-520 grades vs the VG-120 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-520 VG-120 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-520

 VG-120 E-520 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011August 2008More modern by 28 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus VG-120

 E-520 VG-120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus VG-120 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 and the VG-120.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and VG-120 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and VG-120.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will render greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Olympus VG-120 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography features
52
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
62
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography info
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography info
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
36
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery life (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
28
fairly wide (26mm)
comes with face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus E-520Olympus VG-120
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus VG-120
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 -
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
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 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)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 120 grams (0.26 lbs)
Physical 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 rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 160 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $400 $190