Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-145

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-145, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the VG-145 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and VG-145 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was brought out 10 months later than the VG-145 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 grades against the VG-145 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Olympus VG-145. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Olympus VG-145 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus VG-145 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-145 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 versus the VG-145.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and VG-145 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and VG-145.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.