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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Olympus VG-145 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
Olympus VG-145
(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
  • Revealed July 2011
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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-145, both Ultracompact digital cameras and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the VG-145 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was launched 4 years later than the VG-145 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the TG-870 scores against the VG-145 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus VG-145

 TG-870 VG-145 
RevealedJanuary 2016July 2011Fresher by 55 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Olympus TG-870

 VG-145 TG-870 

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-145

 TG-870 VG-145 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 features outside 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) whilst the Olympus VG-145 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-145 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-870 vs the VG-145.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and VG-145 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and VG-145.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-870 to deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics more aggressively. The newer TG-870 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography advice
Olympus VG-145 Portrait photography advice
36
good resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than others (221 grams)
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
Olympus VG-145 Sports photography info
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
good battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Travel photography camera
69
good battery life (300 shots)
environment proof
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
more heavy than others (221g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Landscape photography camera
50
fairly wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
environment proof
good battery life (300 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
36
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery (160 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others (221 grams)
28
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VG-145 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VG-145
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Olympus VG-145
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Olympus VG-145
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2016-01-06 2011-07-27
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 gr (0.49 pounds) 120 gr (0.26 pounds)
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 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 300 shots 160 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $280 $0