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Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus VG-120
(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
  • Released January 2011
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Introduced December 2012
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Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus VG-120 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly similar but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-120 was unveiled 23 months before the XZ-2 iHS making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the VG-120 grades versus the XZ-2 iHS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VG-120 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus VG-120

 XZ-2 iHS VG-120 
IntroducedDecember 2012January 2011More modern by 23 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VG-120 XZ-2 iHS 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 has physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VG-120 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the VG-120 against the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and XZ-2 iHS is 96 and 85 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to see the difference between sensor sizes just by going over specifications. The picture here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and XZ-2 iHS.

Plainly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VG-120 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus VG-120 will deliver more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged VG-120 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
46
focusing manually
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography information
48
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography info
26
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
good battery (340 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
62
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (160 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
good battery (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (346g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (160 shots)
no Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
good battery (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
28
pretty wide (26mm)
includes face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (346g)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus VG-120Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus VG-120 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-06 2012-12-18
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lb) 346 gr (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 216
Other
Battery life 160 pictures 340 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $190 $450