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Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
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
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Olympus TG-4 versus Olympus VG-120, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-4 was introduced 4 years later than the VG-120 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the TG-4 grades against the VG-120 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus VG-120

 TG-4 VG-120 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2011More recent by 52 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus TG-4

 VG-120 TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Olympus VG-120

 TG-4 VG-120 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 offers external dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-4 versus Olympus VG-120 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-4 vs the VG-120.

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and VG-120 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-4 and VG-120.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus TG-4 to show greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer TG-4 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography details
Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
47
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
33
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Olympus VG-120
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (247g)
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
26
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography advice
Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
74
better than average battery (380 shots)
weather proofing
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (247g)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (160 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
62
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery pack (160 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging factors
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging factors
34
fairly wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus TG-4 vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus Tough TG-4Olympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Olympus VG-120
Category Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2015-04-13 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (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 data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 lbs) 120g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 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 photos 160 photos
Battery form 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 recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $379 $190