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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
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-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-120, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and both are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was announced 2 years after the VG-120 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M1 matches up against the VG-120 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-M1 VG-120 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2011Newer by 35 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-M1

 VG-120 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-120

 E-M1 VG-120 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 features exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-120 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 against the VG-120.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and VG-120 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and VG-120.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 will offer more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer E-M1 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
71
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
48
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 shots)
26
decent megapixels (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment proof
features focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
terrible battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (160 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography information
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
36
pretty wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (160 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging highlights
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
lighter than competition in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
28
pretty wide (26mm)
features face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus VG-120
Category Pro Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-10-28 2011-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range - 7cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497 gr (1.10 lb) 120 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 160 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $799 $190