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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
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
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus VG-120, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Olympus. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was brought out 2 years after the VG-120 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up versus the VG-120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus VG-120

 SZ-16 iHS VG-120 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2011Newer by 25 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 VG-120 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus VG-120

 SZ-16 iHS VG-120 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS provides outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus VG-120 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the VG-120.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and VG-120 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-16 iHS and VG-120.

Plainly, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to show greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The newer SZ-16 iHS provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography information
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography information
35
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
Olympus VG-120 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography factors
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (160 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
62
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (160 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography info
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography info
41
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
36
really wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery (160 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging factors
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than average (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
28
really wide (26mm)
provides face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSOlympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Olympus VG-120
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2013-01-08 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 120 grams (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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 pictures 160 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $230 $190