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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2014
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
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Olympus VG-120, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-850 iHS was released 3 years after the VG-120 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the TG-850 iHS matches up against the VG-120 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus VG-120

 TG-850 iHS VG-120 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2011More modern by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 VG-120 TG-850 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Olympus VG-120

 TG-850 iHS VG-120 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS has got external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-120 has dimensions 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 TG-850 iHS and Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the TG-850 iHS compared to the VG-120.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-850 iHS and VG-120 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-850 iHS and VG-120.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-850 iHS to show extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography details
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography features
Olympus VG-120 Street photography features
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography information
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography information
72
good battery (330 shots)
environment sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (160 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
50
fairly wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
good battery (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
33
fairly wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
28
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSOlympus VG-120
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Olympus VG-120
Category Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2014-01-29 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4616 x 3464 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 7cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1/2s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.40 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (60p), 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 format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Yes None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 gr (0.48 lbs) 120 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 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 330 images 160 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $250 $190