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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 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 SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VG-120 was introduced 4 years before the SZ8 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the VG-120 matches up vs the SZ8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic SZ8

 VG-120 SZ8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus VG-120

 SZ8 VG-120 
ReleasedJanuary 2014January 2011More recent by 36 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic SZ8

 VG-120 SZ8 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 comes with outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the VG-120 against the SZ8.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and SZ8 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and SZ8.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic SZ8 to produce more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
48
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
33
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography advice
62
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (160 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery (160 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
41
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery life (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
28
decently wide (26mm)
has face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-06 2014-01-06
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing range 7cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" 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 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $190 $275