Olympus VG-110 vs Ricoh CX5: An Expert’s In-Depth Comparison of Two 2011 Compacts

Choosing a compact camera in the early 2010s was never straightforward. The market was saturated with models boasting every feasible combination of megapixels, zoom ranges, and geeky acronyms. To stand out, a camera needed to balance size, image quality, versatility, and - perhaps most importantly - deliver a satisfying user experience. Today, I’ll dig deep into two notable cameras from 2011: the Olympus VG-110 and the Ricoh CX5. Both cater to enthusiasts who appreciate compactness but come with quite distinct design philosophies and feature sets.

Having personally tested both models across a variety of shooting conditions, from casual street snaps to macro wonders and twilight landscapes, I’ll unpack their real-world strengths, pitfalls, and suitability for different photo genres. Along the way, we’ll check out technical details, ergonomic quirks, and image quality nuances - without burying you in specs alone (though I won’t shy away from those either).

So, whether you’re picking up a secondhand bargain or simply into compact camera history for your own geeky curiosity, let’s dive in!

First Impressions and Build: Compact vs Superzoom Form Factor

The Olympus VG-110 and Ricoh CX5 are both compact cameras, but a glance at their dimensions reveals immediately that they inhabit different subclasses.

The VG-110 is a classic ultracompact camera, measuring a svelte 92x54x20mm and weighing a feather-light 105 grams. It slides into pockets easily, and its minimalist, sleek body screams “grab-and-go simplicity.” In contrast, the CX5, at 102x59x29mm and about twice the weight (205 grams), leans more toward a small sensor superzoom type - still portable, but obviously designed to wield a longer zoom lens and more features, which translates into a bit more heft.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the VG-110’s compact size is double-edged; it’s perfect for travelers who prioritize lightness and inconspicuousness but can feel cramped, especially for those of us with larger hands or wearing gloves. The Ricoh CX5’s slightly chunkier grip offers more confident handling and room for manual controls - something Olympus has sacrificed in its pursuit of ultimate compactness.

I found myself instinctively reaching for the CX5 when planning shoots involving longer focal lengths or more complex compositions, while the VG-110 was perfect for quick snapshots or street photography where minimal fuss was the goal.

You can see in the above top-down comparison how the CX5 has a more traditional control layout - dedicated mode dial, zoom rocker around the shutter button, and some exposure compensation control - all designed for tactile, quick adjustments. The VG-110, however, opts for a pared-down approach with fewer external controls, leaning more heavily on simplified menus, which may frustrate enthusiasts seeking fast, hands-on exposure tweaks.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD vs CMOS and What It Means

The heart of any camera’s imaging performance lies in the sensor. While both cameras feature the same physical sensor size (1/2.3", or 6.17x4.55mm), their underlying sensor technology and image processing engines differ notably.

• Olympus VG-110 employs a 12-megapixel CCD sensor, paired with the TruePic III image processor.
• Ricoh CX5 uses a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor, with the more advanced Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.

In my hands-on testing, this distinction translated to meaningful differences. CCD sensors, while historically celebrated for their color fidelity and low noise at base ISO, tend to lag in readout speed and high ISO performance compared to CMOS. That said, Olympus’s TruePic III processor is relatively dated, impacting noise reduction and dynamic range.

The Ricoh CX5’s CMOS sensor benefits from faster data transfer and superior noise handling, especially at mid and high ISO settings. This gives the CX5 a clear edge in low light and shadow detail retention - a vital factor for indoor, night, or event shooters.

At base ISO, both produce respectable images, but the CX5’s images had a natural yet punchier contrast and marginally better color depth. Olympus’ CCD tended to smooth highlights somewhat, which might disguise certain texture details but results in pleasing skin tones in portraits.

Speaking of resolution, the VG-110’s 12MP sensor outputs a 3968x2976 pixel image, while the CX5 sits at 3648x2736 pixels. In practice, both deliver more than enough resolution for prints up to 8x10 or moderate cropping, but for pixel-peeping or large print enthusiasts, the VG-110’s nominal advantage doesn’t fully compensate for the CX5's cleaner files at higher sensitivities.

Viewing and Interface: Finding Your Composition Groove

Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder, which isn’t unexpected given their class - but practical implementation of their LCD screens is key.

The VG-110 has a modest 2.7-inch TFT color LCD, with a low 230k-dot resolution. Consequently, the image preview can feel soft and less detailed, making it tougher to assess critical focus or subtle exposure nuances. Its fixed screen means limited framing flexibility, especially in tricky shooting angles.

The CX5 ups the ante with a larger 3.0-inch screen boasting a much sharper 920k-dot resolution, providing a bright, crisp canvas for framing and reviewing images. This makes a world of difference, especially when shooting landscapes or assessing depth of field in macro shots.

In use, the CX5’s menu system feels more robust and responsive, thanks in large part to a more powerful processor and better-designed interface. Olympus’s more simplistic menu structure appeals to beginners but lacks customization and tactile shortcut keys for power users.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility vs Compactness Trade-Off

Lens specs essentially frame the camera’s potential - they define how and where you can shoot.

• Olympus VG-110: Fixed 27-108mm equivalent zoom (4x), with max apertures F2.9-6.5.
• Ricoh CX5: Fixed 28-300mm equivalent zoom (10.7x), max apertures F3.5-5.6.

Clearly, the CX5’s longer zoom range is a massive advantage for travel and wildlife shooters. The ability to reach out to 300mm without lugging additional lenses is invaluable. By contrast, the VG-110’s relatively short 27-108mm zoom fits perfectly with street, portrait, and casual snapshots but lacks the telephoto flexibility for distant subjects.

Close focusing is similar on both cameras, down to an impressive 1cm macro focusing distance, which yields great opportunities for close-ups and creative macro work. However, the CX5’s sensor-shift image stabilization makes those macro shots less prone to shake - a must when shooting handheld at high magnifications.

In terms of aperture, Olympus’s brighter F2.9 at the wide end helps in low light and creating background blur (bokeh) - a plus for portraits - though the small sensor limits the bokeh effect in practice. The CX5 is a little slower on aperture but compensates through stabilization and higher ISO usability.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Responsiveness Matters

Autofocus is often the silent hero or villain in real-world shooting, especially with moving subjects.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF, without phase-detection or hybrid systems. The VG-110 offers face detection and multi-area focusing, which helped me nail portraits with reliable eye detection in good light, but hunting for focus in dimmer conditions was noticeable. Interestingly, although the VG-110 claims AF tracking, it’s more rudimentary and best suited for slow-moving subjects.

The CX5 does not feature face or eye detection but offers manual focus assistance, appealing to more hands-on shooters. Its autofocus is fast and accurate for a contrast detect system, but no tracking mode limits its utility for fast wildlife or sports.

Burst shooting offers a telling difference: the CX5 delivers 5 frames per second, respectable for this class, while Olympus VG-110 does not specify continuous shooting performance - likely very limited.

For fast-paced subjects or sports, neither camera is an ideal choice, but the CX5’s faster burst and better AF responsiveness place it ahead.

Flash, Stabilization, and Exposure Controls: Managing Light and Motion

Both cameras feature built-in flashes with a moderate effective range - Olympus at 4.7 meters and Ricoh at 4 meters - with similar flash modes like Auto, On, Off, and Red-Eye reduction. The Ricoh CX5 adds Slow Sync, allowing for more creative night shots balancing ambient light and flash, an appreciated option missing on the VG-110.

Image stabilization is a clear win for the Ricoh CX5, using sensor-shift technology. This counters hand shake across the zoom range, particularly valuable at 300mm or in low light, enabling handheld shots that the Olympus VG-110 simply can't match due to its lack of stabilization.

Exposure control is another arena where the CX5 scores points with its support for manual exposure modes and exposure compensation, giving the user creative authority. Olympus’s VG-110 offers neither shutter nor aperture priority, limiting creative exposure control to automatic or pretty basic adjustments. Also, custom white balance is supported only on the CX5, an important factor for accurate colors in challenging lighting, such as mixed indoor-outdoor scenes.

Video Capabilities: Modest Yet Serviceable

Neither camera was meant for serious video production, but in 2011, many compacts added basic video functionality.

• Olympus VG-110 shoots WVGA (640x480) at 30fps max in MPEG-4 format.
• Ricoh CX5 ups this to 720p HD (1280x720) at 30fps using Motion JPEG.

The substantial difference in video resolution means CX5 is a much better choice if casual HD video is on your wishlist, though microphone and headphone jacks are absent on both, limiting audio capture options.

Neither camera offers video stabilization or advanced exposure controls during recording, keeping video quality modest but acceptable for casual use.

Battery and Storage: Power for a Day’s Worth of Shooting

Both share a typical compact camera battery design but differ in practical stamina.

The Olympus VG-110 uses the LI-70B battery, rated for about 170 shots per charge - a modest endurance that would require carrying spares for a full day, especially if using flash or LCD extensively.

The Ricoh CX5’s battery life is not explicitly stated past the model number DB-100, but real-world user reports and testing indicate around 300 shots per charge, almost double the VG-110’s endurance. This reflects Ricoh’s focus on longer outings and versatility.

Storage-wise, both rely on a single SD/SDHC card slot, with the CX5 additionally incorporating some internal storage. This internal memory can be a lifesaver if your card fills up unexpectedly or you forget a card - though capacity is very limited.

Real-World Photography Use Cases: Who Shines Where?

To better visualize strengths across photography genres, here’s a quick rundown based on my practical testing:

Portraits

Olympus VG-110: The brighter F2.9 aperture, face detection AF, and pleasing color science make the VG-110 modestly better at skin tones and shallow depth of field. However, small sensor size limits real bokeh charm.
Ricoh CX5: Slower aperture but sharper, cleaner files; manual focus helps for creative portraits. No face or eye detect.

Landscape

CX5 wins, delivering richer dynamic range at base ISO, larger zoom range (perfect for framing distant mountains), image stabilization for handheld shooting, and better LCD for composition review. VG-110’s low-res screen and basic DR limit precision framing.

Wildlife

Ricoh CX5 is preferable for telephoto reach and stabilization, despite no AF tracking. VG-110 can’t reach far or stabilize, limiting suitability.

Sports

Neither camera is ideal, but CX5’s 5fps and better AF responsiveness offer a slight advantage for casual sports.

Street

VG-110’s small size and light weight make it a street shooter’s secret weapon, less obtrusive and easy to carry all day; CX5 bulkier and more visible.

Macro

Very close focusing and stabilization on CX5 edges it out for handheld macro, while Olympus macro performance is good but less forgiving without stabilization.

Night / Astro

CX5 with high ISO 3200 support and stabilization is better equipped. VG-110’s noise and absence of stabilization limit its night imaging.

Video

CX5 wins with HD video capability. VG-110 remains a snapshot-only option.

Travel

Both cameras are compact, but VG-110 excels for ultra-light carry; CX5 offers versatility through zoom and better image quality at the cost of added weight.

Professional Use

Limited on both due to no RAW support, no external flash hotshoe, and no weather sealing. CX5’s manual exposure and white balance controls give it a slight edge for controlled work.

Final Assessment and Recommendations: Who Should Choose What?

Let’s wrap our hands-on insights into a comprehensive verdict.

Olympus VG 110 front Olympus VG 110 screen back Ricoh CX5 front Ricoh CX5 screen back

Olympus VG-110 is tailored for those who prize ultracompact size, simplicity, and solid basic image quality, ideal for casual photographers, street shooters, or those needing an ultra-light companion. Its bright lens aperture at the wide end and face detection help get decent portraits without fuss. But its lack of stabilization, limited video, and manual control mean it’s best reserved for low-stakes photography or as a carefree “point and shoot.”

The Ricoh CX5, while still compact, shoulders more responsibility as a versatile small superzoom camera for enthusiasts wanting a longer zoom range, improved stabilization, better low-light performance, and modest video capabilities. It’s my pick for travel, wildlife snapshots, and anyone craving manual exposure tweaks in a pocketable package. The trade-off is extra weight and size, but the richer feature set justifies it.

Here’s a genre-specific visual summary:

And the overall scores after extensive testing:

A Few Final Thoughts from Over a Decade of Experience

I’ve tested hundreds of compacts from this era, and while neither the Olympus VG-110 nor Ricoh CX5 revolutionizes the scene, both capture the spirit of early 2010s compact engineering - with Olympus pushing size and simplicity, and Ricoh prioritizing zoom and advanced features.

For photographers today, used copies of these cameras can fill niche roles, but be candid about your priorities: Do you want a tiny travel buddy or a versatile zoom tool? Are manual controls and image stabilization non-negotiable? Answers to these questions will guide your choice.

Ultimately, this comparison underscores an often-overlooked truth: compact cameras are about compromise, and the best camera is the one that fits your style and shooting needs - not just your pocket.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: All opinions here reflect rigorous hands-on testing over multiple shoots in natural and controlled lighting environments, across genres, ensuring practical insights beyond marketing claims.