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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus VG-120, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 II was manufactured 4 years after the VG-120 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-M5 II grades versus the VG-120 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus VG-120

 E-M5 II VG-120 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015January 2011More modern by 50 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 VG-120 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus VG-120

 E-M5 II VG-120 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II features outside measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 II versus the VG-120.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and VG-120 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The image underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and VG-120.

All in all, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 II because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 II will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 II provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
82
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low battery life (310 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
74
weather sealing
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery life (310 per charge)
62
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (310 CIPA)
36
decently wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
82
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
28
decently wide (26mm)
supports face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus VG-120
Class Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2015-02-06 2011-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII TruePic III
Sensor type MOS 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 16MP 14MP
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
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
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 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 gr (1.03 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 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 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photos 160 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $699 $190