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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic FZ300, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the FZ300 (12MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was released 5 years earlier than the FZ300 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the VG-120 matches up vs the FZ300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic FZ300

 VG-120 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus VG-120

 FZ300 VG-120 
IntroducedJuly 2015January 2011Fresher by 55 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic FZ300

 VG-120 FZ300 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 enjoys external 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 FZ300 has specifications of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic FZ300 in the new Camera with 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. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the VG-120 against the FZ300.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and FZ300 is 96 and 59 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The visual below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and FZ300.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus VG-120 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
33
MP count decent (14MP)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
46
has manual focus
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
48
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
59
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment sealing
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Sports photography camera
26
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery power (380 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ300
62
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
59
great battery power (380 shots)
environment sealing
has focus by touch
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Landscape photography camera
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (160 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery power (380 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging highlights
28
pretty wide (26mm)
supports face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
62
pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-06 2015-07-16
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 7cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate - 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 pounds) 691g (1.52 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Launch price $190 $598