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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Launched January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus VG-120, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was announced 2 months later than the VG-120 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL2 matches up against the VG-120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-PL2 VG-120 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-PL2

 VG-120 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus VG-120

 E-PL2 VG-120 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2011Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus VG-120 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the VG-120.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and VG-120 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will show more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Street photography factors
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (280 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
good resolution (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (280 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography factors
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
36
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (160 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
28
fairly wide (26mm)
includes face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus VG-120
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2011-02-11 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
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)
Max 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 lb) 120g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 114 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 Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images 160 images
Type 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $0 $190