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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released March 2011
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
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly close and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 2 months after the VG-120 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ-30MR grades against the VG-120 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus VG-120

 SZ-30MR VG-120 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 VG-120 SZ-30MR 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Olympus VG-120

 SZ-30MR VG-120 
IntroducedMarch 2011January 2011Same generation
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and 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).

Examine the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR against the VG-120.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and VG-120 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture here will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and VG-120.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-30MR to result in extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others (226g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (220 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
62
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography details
41
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery life (220 shots)
no Timelapse recording
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery power (160 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging information
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging information
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
includes face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus SZ-30MROlympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Olympus VG-120
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-03-02 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
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
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 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 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), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 226g (0.50 lb) 120g (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 photos 160 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $279 $190