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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 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
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic FH20, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was revealed 13 months later than the FH20 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the VG-120 scores versus the FH20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic FH20

 VG-120 FH20 
IntroducedJanuary 2011January 2010More recent by 13 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus VG-120

 FH20 VG-120 

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic FH20

 VG-120 FH20 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 enjoys exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has specifications of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic FH20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the VG-120 against the FH20.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and FH20 is 96 and 93 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and FH20.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you may want to factor the age of the cameras into account. The more modern VG-120 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography factors
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography advice
26
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography advice
62
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography features
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (160 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
37
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging advice
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
comes with face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-06 2010-01-06
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 7cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 lbs) 178g (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 160 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $190 $179