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Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
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
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-10 and Olympus VG-120, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was announced 2 months later than the VG-120 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ-10 grades vs the VG-120 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Olympus VG-120

 SZ-10 VG-120 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus SZ-10

 VG-120 SZ-10 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Olympus VG-120

 SZ-10 VG-120 
IntroducedFebruary 2011January 2011Same generation
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-10 and Olympus VG-120 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-10 versus the VG-120.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and VG-120 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and VG-120.

As you can see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP and you should expect comparable quality of images but you should always factor the release date of the cameras into account.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
33
good MP (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
33
MP count good (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (215 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
48
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography features
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography features
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
26
MP count good (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (160 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
65
lighter than competition (215 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
62
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (160 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography features
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography features
40
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
36
decently wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery (160 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
31
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (215 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
28
decently wide (26mm)
has face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus SZ-10Olympus VG-120
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-10 Olympus VG-120
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-02-08 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.10 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 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 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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 gr (0.47 lbs) 120 gr (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 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 220 images 160 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $190