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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Released January 2011
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS1, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The VG-120 was manufactured 21 months later than the ZS1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the VG-120 matches up against the ZS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic ZS1

 VG-120 ZS1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011May 2009Fresher by 21 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus VG-120

 ZS1 VG-120 

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS1

 VG-120 ZS1 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 has 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 ZS1 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the VG-120 against the ZS1.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and ZS1 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and ZS1.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VG-120 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus VG-120 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent VG-120 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography advice
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
25
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography details
48
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography factors
26
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography details
62
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography information
36
really wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS1
28
really wide (26mm)
has face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (229g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-06 2009-05-14
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 grams (0.26 lbs) 229 grams (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 160 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $190 $0