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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus VG-160, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the VG-160 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and VG-160 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 22 months later than the VG-160 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up vs the VG-160 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus VG-160

 E-M1 VG-160 
IntroducedOctober 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Olympus E-M1

 VG-160 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-160

 E-M1 VG-160 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Olympus VG-160 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus VG-160 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 versus the VG-160.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and VG-160 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements only by going over specifications. The visual below should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and VG-160.

To sum up, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will offer more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
71
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
33
good MP (14MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Olympus VG-160 Street photography features
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (497g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
56
lighter than others (125g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Olympus VG-160 Sports photography details
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 shots)
26
good MP (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (165 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment proof
features touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (350 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than others (125 grams)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (165 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography information
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
bad battery life (350 shots)
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (165 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging advice
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
30
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detect focus
lighter than others (125 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VG-160
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus VG-160
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus VG-160
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-10-28 2012-01-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.80 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 125 grams (0.28 lbs)
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 All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 165 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $90