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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Announced January 2011
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15, 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 ZS15 (12MP) is relatively close and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was announced 18 months before the ZS15 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the VG-120 matches up vs the ZS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic ZS15

 VG-120 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus VG-120

 ZS15 VG-120 
RevealedJune 2012January 2011Fresher by 18 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS15

 VG-120 ZS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 has external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the VG-120 and the ZS15.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and ZS15 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and ZS15.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus VG-120 to render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
48
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
26
MP count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
62
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (160 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competition (208 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery pack (160 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
28
rather wide (26mm)
features face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
33
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-06 2012-06-29
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120g (0.26 pounds) 208g (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 One One
Launch cost $190 $279