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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
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-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VG-120, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and VG-120 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 2 years after the VG-120 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PM2 grades versus the VG-120 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus VG-120

 E-PM2 VG-120 
AnnouncedMay 2013January 2011Newer by 29 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus E-PM2

 VG-120 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VG-120

 E-PM2 VG-120 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 vs the VG-120.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and VG-120 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The pic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and VG-120.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PM2 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
decent MP (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (160 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
62
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (160 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
supports face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus VG-120
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2013-05-21 2011-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 160 pictures
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $448 $190