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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 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 ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic ZS40, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was brought out 4 years earlier than the ZS40 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VG-120 grades versus the ZS40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Panasonic ZS40

 VG-120 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus VG-120

 ZS40 VG-120 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2011Fresher by 36 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS40

 VG-120 ZS40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 provides physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VG-120 versus Panasonic ZS40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-120 vs the ZS40.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and ZS40 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and ZS40.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS40 to give you extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography details
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
52
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography highlights
48
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
26
good megapixels (14MP)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (160 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography details
62
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery power (160 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (240g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography information
36
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery power (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
56
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging features
28
relatively wide (26mm)
has face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
34
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus VG-120 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus VG-120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-06 2014-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 7cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 6.40 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 metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120g (0.26 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 300 images
Form 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
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $190 $450