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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus VG-120, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was launched within a month of the VG-120 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1s scores against the VG-120 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus VG-120

 E-PL1s VG-120 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 VG-120 E-PL1s 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus VG-120

 E-PL1s VG-120 
AnnouncedNovember 2010January 2011Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1s provides physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus VG-120 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1s versus the VG-120.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and VG-120 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The picture below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography information
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
26
decent MP (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography info
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
rather wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery power (160 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging advice
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
28
rather wide (26mm)
features face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus VG-120
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2010-11-16 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
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 score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 160 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $190