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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

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
  • Revealed January 2011
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Announced February 2019
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and S1 (24MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and S1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The VG-120 was unveiled 9 years before the S1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the VG-120 matches up versus the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic S1

 VG-120 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus VG-120

 S1 VG-120 
AnnouncedFebruary 2019January 2011More recent by 98 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2100k230kClearer display (+1870k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic S1

 VG-120 S1 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 features physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S1 has dimensions of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the VG-120 compared to the S1.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and S1 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and S1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-120 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic S1 will render greater detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography info
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography info
33
good MP (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
85
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
Panasonic S1 Street photography advice
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
70
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
environment sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than average (1,021g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Sports photography camera
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
bad battery (380 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Panasonic S1
62
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery pack (160 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
environment sealing
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
bad battery (380 per charge)
more heavy than average (1,021g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Landscape photography camera
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
bad battery (380 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging info
Panasonic S1 Vlogging info
28
decently wide (26mm)
includes face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
32
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average (1,021 grams)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Type Ultracompact Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-01-06 2019-02-01
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 225
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Leica L
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Total lenses - 30
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 2,100k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed - 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/320s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120g (0.26 pounds) 1021g (2.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 95
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.5
DXO Low light score not tested 3333
Other
Battery life 160 images 380 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC -
Storage slots One Dual
Launch cost $190 $2,498