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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and both are created by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was brought out 8 months after the VG-120 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-P3 matches up versus the VG-120 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-P3 VG-120 
AnnouncedAugust 2011January 2011Newer by 8 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-P3

 VG-120 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus VG-120

 E-P3 VG-120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the VG-120.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and VG-120 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over specifications. The pic underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and VG-120.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus VG-120 will deliver more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively. The younger E-P3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Olympus VG-120 Street photography info
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
fixed screen
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography factors
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (160 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
60
has touch to focus
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
62
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (160 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (160 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
28
decently wide (26mm)
provides face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus VG-120
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2011-08-17 2011-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic III
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
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 range - 7cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
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, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 160 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $190