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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VG-120, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was launched 16 months later than the VG-120 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M5 matches up vs the VG-120 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M5 VG-120 
AnnouncedApril 2012January 2011More recent by 16 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k230kClearer screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 VG-120 E-M5 

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

 E-M5 VG-120 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 provides physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 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).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VG-120 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 versus the VG-120.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and VG-120 is 81 and 96 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and VG-120.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
33
decent MP (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Street photography factors
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus via touch
environment proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
48
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
does not have phase detect AF
26
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (160 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
66
environment proofing
features focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
62
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (160 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
no Timelapse function
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (160 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
supports face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus VG-120
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus VG-120
Type Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2012-04-30 2011-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI 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 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
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
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
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 120 gr (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 160 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $799 $190