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Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500

Portability
97
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus VG-110 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus VG-110
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 27-108mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 105g - 92 x 54 x 20mm
  • Launched February 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus VG-110 and Sony A500, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-110 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is pretty similar but the VG-110 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The VG-110 was unveiled 18 months later than the A500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-110 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the VG-110 matches up against the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-110 over the Sony A500

 VG-110 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011August 2009More recent by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus VG-110

 A500 VG-110 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus VG-110 and Sony A500

 VG-110 A500 
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-110 has got outer dimensions of 92mm x 54mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.1" x 0.8") with a weight of 105 grams (0.23 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-110 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-110 versus the A500.

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-110 and A500 is 97 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The visual here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-110 and A500.

All in all, each of these cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The VG-110 offers the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF trickier. The newer VG-110 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-110 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
26
has face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-110 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-110 Sports photography advice
Sony A500 Sports photography advice
24
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (170 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-110 Travel photography info
Sony A500 Travel photography info
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (27mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (170 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.9)
43
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (520 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-110 Landscape photography features
Sony A500 Landscape photography features
27
fairly wide (27mm)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery life (170 shots)
no Timelapse recording
60
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (520 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-110
Vlogging with Sony A500
28
fairly wide (27mm)
has face detect focus
slow max aperture (f2.9)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus VG-110 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-110 and Sony A500
 Olympus VG-110Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-110 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-02-08 2009-08-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 27-108mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.9-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 105 gr (0.23 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 54 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.1" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 170 photographs 520 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $150 $638