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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120, both Ultracompact digital cameras and they are both created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was brought out 5 years later than the VG-120 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the TG-870 scores vs the VG-120 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus VG-120

 TG-870 VG-120 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016January 2011Fresher by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus TG-870

 VG-120 TG-870 

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-120

 TG-870 VG-120 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 has got external measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-870 vs the VG-120.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and VG-120 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The photograph below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and VG-120.

All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus TG-870 to give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer TG-870 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography details
Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than average in class (221 grams)
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
26
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (160 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography factors
69
great battery pack (300 per charge)
weather proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
more heavy than average in class (221 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (160 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography info
50
fairly wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (160 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
32
fairly wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (221 grams)
28
rather wide (26mm)
features face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Olympus VG-120
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Released 2016-01-06 2011-01-06
Body design Ultracompact 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 120 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 160 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $280 $190