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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the VG-160 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and VG-160 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was brought out 4 months after the VG-160 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M5 grades versus the VG-160 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus VG-160

 E-M5 VG-160 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Olympus E-M5

 VG-160 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VG-160

 E-M5 VG-160 
AnnouncedApril 2012January 2012Similar age
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus VG-160 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 and the VG-160.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and VG-160 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over specifications. The picture underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and VG-160.

To sum up, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will deliver greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Olympus VG-160 Street photography features
82
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
56
lighter than competitors (125 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
27
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (165 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Travel photography factors
66
environment sealing
features touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
no Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
66
lighter than competitors (125g)
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery power (165 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography information
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no Time Lapse mode
37
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery power (165 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging information
34
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
30
fairly wide (26mm)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VG-160
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus VG-160
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus VG-160
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-30 2012-01-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display 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
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425g (0.94 pounds) 125g (0.28 pounds)
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 All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 165 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail price $799 $90