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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VG-120, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was unveiled 7 years after the VG-120 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL9 grades versus the VG-120 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-PL9 VG-120 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2011More modern by 87 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-PL9

 VG-120 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VG-120

 E-PL9 VG-120 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 has got outer measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VG-120 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 vs the VG-120.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and VG-120 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The image here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and VG-120.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
26
decent megapixels (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (160 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
77
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
does not posses selfie friendly screen
62
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (160 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (160 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
has face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus VG-120
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus VG-120
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2018-02-08 2011-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII 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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 7cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 120 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 160 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $190