Olympus E-P5 vs. VG-160: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiast Photographers

In the universe of Olympus cameras, the E-P5 and the VG-160 occupy very different corners. One is a rangefinder-style mirrorless marvel aimed at enthusiasts who crave advanced controls and image quality; the other is a simple compact point-and-shoot designed for absolute ease and portability. But how do these two cameras - separated by class, sensor size, and features - really compare when you roll up your sleeves and put them to the test across varied photographic disciplines? Having spent years hands-on testing cameras from novice compacts to professional mirrorless bodies, I’m excited to walk you through their relative strengths, weaknesses, and practical use cases.

Whether you’re a serious photo enthusiast considering an affordable Micro Four Thirds system entry or someone wanting a straightforward grab-and-go shooter, this comparison will demystify where each model shines - and where it falls short. Let’s dive into the nuances of these Olympus offerings, starting with the basics.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size and Feel Matter

The first tactile clue comes at the body level, and here the difference is immediately clear. The Olympus E-P5 sports a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless design with a solid heft and a reputation for excellent build quality for its class, while the VG-160 is the very definition of pocketable simplicity.

At 420 grams and measuring 122x69x37 mm, the E-P5 feels substantial in the hand, providing a reassuring grip that encourages deliberate composition. Its physical dimensions and weight suit photographers who want manual control and lens interchangeability without lugging around an SLR. In contrast, the VG-160’s ultra-light 125 grams and diminutive 96x57x19 mm size embodies the ultra-compact world where convenience and portability trump nearly everything else.

From experience, I find the E-P5’s controls and heft invite thoughtful shooting sessions, making it enjoyable to use for longer periods and more demanding photography types (portrait, wildlife, etc.). The VG-160, while easy to toss into a pocket and carry everywhere, lacks physical controls and a grip that supports steady shooting in challenging situations.

Top View and Controls: Hands-On Usability

Much of the photography experience is defined by how the camera feels under your fingers - a significant differentiator especially for enthusiasts wanting precision.

The E-P5’s top plate layout reveals dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and aperture controls when paired with compatible lenses. This tactile, manual control setup means you can quickly change settings without digging through menus. Also visible is a popup flash, hot shoe for external flashes, and a commanding shutter button - all essentials when shooting in dynamic conditions.

Conversely, the VG-160’s top is minimalist - a shutter release, zoom rocker, and power button - reflecting its point-and-shoot simplicity. There’s no manual exposure, no hot shoe, and limited options for adjusting settings on the fly. For casual snapshots or travel photos under plentiful light, this simplicity works. But if you want creative control, it’s immediately limiting.

As someone who prefers physical control knobs for manual shooting, the VG-160’s button-only design feels constrained - especially if you’re coming from a more advanced camera system like the Olympus PEN series.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

If there’s one place cameras differ most, it is sensor size and technology - dictating everything from image quality to depth of field and low-light performance.

The E-P5 is built around a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized 17.3x13 mm - significantly larger than the tiny 1/2.3-inch (6.17x4.55 mm) CCD sensor inside the VG-160. This size difference directly translates to better light-gathering ability, lower noise, and superior dynamic range. According to DxO benchmarks, the E-P5 scores an overall rating of 72 with excellent color depth (22.8 bits) and dynamic range (12.4 EV stops), while the VG-160 hasn’t been tested but is expected to lag behind dramatically.

Practically, the E-P5 delivers crisper images with far less noise above ISO 800, retaining fine details and natural skin tones. The VG-160’s compact sensor struggles in low light and has limited resolution in bigger prints, I’ve found.

The E-P5’s inclusion of an anti-aliasing filter reduces moiré artifacts at the expense of slightly softer edges - a balanced choice common in enthusiast cameras. The VG-160 has a similar filter but struggles due to the small sensor and older CCD tech, resulting in more artifacts and weaker detail.

Screen and Interface: How You See Your Image

Whether you frame your shots on an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen, comfortable and accurate image preview is indispensable.

The E-P5 sports a 3-inch tilting 1037k-dot capacitive touchscreen LCD in the elegant 3:2 aspect ratio. Tilt movement allows shooting from unusual angles - low or overhead - enhancing creative possibilities. The touchscreen interface aids quick menu navigation and focus point selection, which I personally appreciate when moving between street and portrait work.

By contrast, the VG-160 has a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with just 230k dots of resolution. The colors look less rich, image previews grainier, and without touchscreen controls, menu interaction feels dated and slower.

For anyone who values composing with a live, detailed view and tactile menu operation, the E-P5’s screen is a clear winner. It also supports live view autofocus modes that the VG-160’s basic screen cannot match.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Precision, and Face Detection

autofocus systems can make or break the shooting experience, especially for action or portraiture demanding fast, reliable focus.

The Olympus E-P5 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 35 focus points and face-detection capabilities. It supports touch AF on its screen and offers continuous, single, and tracking AF modes, allowing you to lock focus on moving subjects or switch to manual focus quickly. I tested the E-P5 in various scenarios - portraits, street, and even wildlife - and its AF performance impressed me with accurate eye detection and consistent tracking of subjects, a worthy feature given its 2013 vintage.

Meanwhile, the VG-160’s autofocus is basic contrast-detection with unspecified focus point count but no continuous or tracking modes. It offers face detection but lacks touch AF or manual focus override. In practical use, it feels sluggish and less precise, making it suitable mostly for static subjects under good light.

If your photography involves sports, wildlife, or children, the E-P5’s autofocus system delivers more confidence and keeps you in the moment without chasing focus.

Burst Rates and Shutter Speeds for Action Photography

Action shooters will look closely at continuous shooting speeds and shutter capabilities.

The E-P5 offers a remarkable 9 fps burst rate, combined with a max shutter speed of 1/8000s and silent electronic shutter options. This frame rate is respectable for enthusiast-level mirrorless and enables capturing fleeting moments like sports or wildlife behavior. The shutter speed range also provides creative flexibility for freezing action or using wide apertures in bright light.

The VG-160, on the other hand, maxes out at roughly 1/2000s shutter speed, with no continuous shooting mode to speak of. It’s definitely not built for high-speed capture and is better suited for casual hand-held shots.

For any sports or fast-action use, the E-P5 is leagues ahead. I personally dislike missing decisive moments because the camera lags, so the VG-160’s limited speed is frustrating.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Creative Freedom vs. Fixed Convenience

Arguably, one of the most significant usability factors is the lens system.

The Olympus PEN E-P5 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, which opens access to an extensive and mature lens lineup of over 100 options - primes, zooms, macro, ultra-wide, telephoto, even cinema lenses. This breadth allows photographers to tailor their gear for portraits, landscapes, macro, sports, or street photography. I’ve relied on this system’s versatility across many shoots, appreciating the ability to swap lenses according to creative needs.

The VG-160, by contrast, features a non-interchangeable fixed lens with 26-130mm equivalent focal length and a variable aperture of f/2.8-6.5. While the zoom range covers many everyday situations, you cannot upgrade optics or add special lenses. It’s a simplified experience with inherent compromises on image quality and creative control.

Think of the E-P5 as your gateway to a photographic toolkit versus the VG-160’s all-in-one snapshot approach. For enthusiasts who want to experiment with bokeh, wide apertures, or macro setups, the E-P5 is unbeatable here. Casual photographers may find the VG-160’s fixed lens does the job with less fuss.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Shooting in Real-World Conditions

If you shoot outdoors or in challenging environments, camera durability matters.

Neither the E-P5 nor the VG-160 features official weather sealing, dustproofing, or freezeproofing. The E-P5’s metal body construction feels solid and well-made, handling the occasional bump better than the VG-160’s plastic compact housing.

For rigorous outdoor shoots, I found the E-P5 more confidence-inspiring though it still requires care in rain or dust. The VG-160 is optimized for everyday urban sniff-and-shoot use, not rugged field shooting.

Battery Life and Storage: Endless Shots or Limited Snaps?

Battery life plays a practical role, especially on longer outings.

The E-P5 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for about 330 shots per charge - typical for mirrorless models with bright electronic displays. In my hands-on tests, actual numbers varied with usage but matched advertised expectations.

The VG-160’s smaller capacity battery supports approximately 165 shots, about half that of the E-P5, reflecting its more basic features but also smaller power draw.

Both cameras use single SD card slots, with the E-P5 supporting the full SD/SDHC/SDXC range and faster write speeds - important when shooting burst sequences or high-res files.

Video Capabilities: Full HD vs. Basic HD Recording

How do these cameras stack up for hybrid shooters who want decent video?

The E-P5 shoots Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps with H.264 compression, providing solid quality for casual to semi-pro video work. Importantly, it includes image stabilization during video capture, improving handheld footage smoothness. However, it lacks microphone and headphone jacks, which limits audio control.

The VG-160 supports 720p HD video at 30 and 15 fps but uses older Motion JPEG compression, resulting in larger files and lower overall quality. It offers no electronic stabilization or audio inputs.

If video is a priority, the E-P5’s capabilities are the clear step up - especially combined with interchangeable lenses and stabilization.

Practical Applications: Which Camera Excels in Which Genres?

With technical specs covered, let’s explore how these cameras perform across genres.

Portrait Photography

The E-P5’s larger sensor and 5-axis in-body stabilization excel in rendering natural skin tones, subject separation, and smooth bokeh using compatible fast lenses. Its face detection autofocus aids flawless results, and the tilting touchscreen enables creative angles. The VG-160’s small sensor limits depth of field control and produces images that feel clinical and less dynamic, making it less suited for serious portraits.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution matter most here. The E-P5 captures expansive scenes with high detail, benefiting from raw file support and lens options like ultra-wides. The VG-160 can record landscapes but struggles with noise in shadows and blown highlights in contrasty scenes.

Wildlife and Sports

The E-P5’s faster AF, high frame rates, and lens flexibility give it a real edge in action photography, though its 2.1x crop factor is a factor to consider. The VG-160’s slow AF and lack of burst make it poor for fast moving subjects.

Street Photography

Small size and quiet shutter matter. The E-P5 is relatively compact but still noticeable; however, its silent shutter mode is great for discreet shooting. The VG-160 is the stealthiest thanks to size but lacks quality and manual control for creative street work.

Macro Photography

The E-P5’s lens range includes excellent macro lenses, and sensor stabilization aids steady close-ups. The VG-160 has a 7 cm macro capability but is limited in reach and precision.

Night and Astro

Low-light noise performance and long exposure flexibility favor the E-P5, which can handle ISO sensitivities up to 25600 (though noisier above 1600 in practice). The VG-160 maxes out at ISO 1600 with poor noise control and limited shutter speeds.

Travel Photography

Here, the VG-160’s extreme portability and ease of use appeal, but the E-P5 offers more versatility and image quality, suitable for serious travel photographers who don’t mind a bit more weight.

Professional Work

The E-P5’s support for RAW files, better build quality, and lens options make it capable for professional work in certain fields, especially as a secondary compact body for travel or proxy shots. The VG-160 has no place in professional workflows due to lack of manual controls and format support.

Sample Imagery: A Tale Told in Pixels

To see how these differences translate visually, examine this gallery showing images from both cameras side-by-side.

Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back Olympus VG 160 front Olympus VG 160 screen back

Note the richer colors, sharper details, and superior low-light performance from the E-P5 files. The VG-160’s images suffer from softness, noise, and narrower dynamic range. This visual evidence reinforces the technical evaluations.

Performance Scores: Objective Ratings Summarized

Let’s summarize the takeaway with overall performance ratings.

Here, the E-P5’s scores reflect its enthusiast-grade sensor and features. The VG-160’s modest numbers mirror its entry-level compact origins.

Genre-Specific Performance Analysis: Where Each Camera Stands

Evaluating by photographic genre clarifies best use cases.

Notice the E-P5 rates highly for portrait, landscape, wildlife, and video, while the VG-160 performs only reasonably in travel and casual snapshots.

Connectivity, Wireless Features, and Workflow Integration

The E-P5 includes built-in wireless connectivity for image transfer, a welcome convenience for modern workflows. USB 2.0 port supports file transfer. In contrast, the VG-160 offers no wireless features and relies solely on USB 2.0 connectivity.

Professional workflows benefit from the E-P5’s RAW files and compatibility with tethering or remote apps, which the VG-160 cannot offer.

Price-to-Performance Considerations: What Are You Getting?

The VG-160’s budget price (around $90 retail at launch) makes it a tempting no-fuss gift camera or backup device for casual photographers. The E-P5, priced near $390 (used or discounted), demands a larger investment but rewards you with a notably better camera system.

If you’re just stepping into photography or want a camera to capture family moments without complexity, the VG-160’s cost and simplicity are attractive. But if you want room to grow, better image quality, and creative freedom, the E-P5 is the smarter long-term choice.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Here’s my two cents from over a decade of camera testing:

• Choose the Olympus E-P5 if: You’re an enthusiast or semi-pro seeking a compact mirrorless system with high image quality, interchangeable lenses, strong autofocus, and excellent versatility. Its 5-axis stabilization, manual controls, and full HD video equip you well for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and video projects.

• Choose the Olympus VG-160 if: You want a simple, ultra-compact camera for casual shooting, easy sharing, or travel without the learning curve of DSLR/mirrorless systems. It’s lightweight and straightforward but limited technically and creatively.

Photography is as much about tools as it is about your vision. In this pairing, the E-P5 is the tool for photographers eager to craft their art with precision, while the VG-160 is a point-and-shoot aimed at convenience and ease.

I hope this hands-on comparison sheds light on the meaningful differences beyond specs. Remember, the best camera is the one that suits your artistic goals and shooting habits - everything else flows from there.

Happy shooting!