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Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
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
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus SH-1 versus Olympus VG-120, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SH-1 was revealed 3 years later than the VG-120 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SH-1 matches up versus the VG-120 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Olympus VG-120

 SH-1 VG-120 
ReleasedMarch 2014January 2011More recent by 40 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus SH-1

 VG-120 SH-1 

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Olympus VG-120

 SH-1 VG-120 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-1 provides external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Olympus VG-120 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-1 versus Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SH-1 vs the VG-120.

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and VG-120 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-1 and VG-120.

Clearly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus SH-1 to produce greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more recent SH-1 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Street photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition (271g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Sports photography info
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography info
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
26
resolution is good (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
74
good battery (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (271g)
has focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
49
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
good battery (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
36
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
lighter than competition (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
28
quite wide (26mm)
includes face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Olympus VG-120
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Olympus VG-120
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2014-03-31 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII TruePic III
Sensor type BSI-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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 3cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.40 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lb) 120 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 photographs 160 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $349 $190