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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Launched January 2011
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic LZ20, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VG-120 was launched 18 months before the LZ20 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief overview of how the VG-120 matches up vs the LZ20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic LZ20

 VG-120 LZ20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus VG-120

 LZ20 VG-120 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2011More recent by 18 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic LZ20

 VG-120 LZ20 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 features exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ20 has sizing of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic LZ20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-120 vs the LZ20.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and LZ20 is 96 and 71 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The photograph underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and LZ20.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic LZ20 to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography info
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography info
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
36
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography highlights
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
45
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography factors
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery (380 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Travel photography camera
62
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
great battery (380 shots)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (499 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography features
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery power (160 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
45
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
great battery (380 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging information
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (26mm)
comes with face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
25
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (499 grams)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-06 2012-07-18
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing distance 7cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 lbs) 499g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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 images 380 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $190 $250