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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
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
  • Introduced January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VG-120, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 7 months before the VG-120 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the VG-120 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-PL1 VG-120 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-PL1

 VG-120 E-PL1 
IntroducedJanuary 2011May 2010Newer by 7 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VG-120

 E-PL1 VG-120 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the VG-120.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and VG-120 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus VG-120 will produce extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
26
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (290 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (160 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
really wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery (160 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
28
really wide (26mm)
provides face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus VG-120
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2010-05-17 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range - 7cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 120 grams (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 160 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $288 $190