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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is mju Tough 3000
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
Photography Glossary

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Olympus VG-120, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact and both are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is very similar and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The Tough-3000 was unveiled 12 months earlier than the VG-120 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the Tough-3000 matches up vs the VG-120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Olympus VG-120

 Tough-3000 VG-120 

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 VG-120 Tough-3000 
ReleasedJanuary 2011January 2010More recent by 12 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus Tough-3000 and Olympus VG-120

 Tough-3000 VG-120 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus Tough-3000 offers physical dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while 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).

Look at the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Olympus VG-120 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the Tough-3000 against the VG-120.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the Tough-3000 and VG-120 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the Tough-3000 and VG-120.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus VG-120 to deliver greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older Tough-3000 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography information
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography information
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus Tough-3000
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography information
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
36
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
26
good resolution (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography highlights
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
61
environment proof
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
62
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus Tough-3000
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
35
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
36
decently wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery power (160 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging advice
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
28
decently wide (26mm)
provides face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus Tough-3000 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 Olympus VG-120
Also referred to as mju Tough 3000 -
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2010-01-07 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.1 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 2cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 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 159 gr (0.35 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") 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 - 160 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $190