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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is relatively similar but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The VG-120 was introduced 3 years earlier than the K-50 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VG-120 grades against the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Pentax K-50

 VG-120 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus VG-120

 K-50 VG-120 
RevealedNovember 2013January 2011More recent by 35 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax K-50

 VG-120 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 features outside dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-120 and the K-50.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and K-50 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and K-50.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-120 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-50 will deliver greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Pentax K-50
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
good high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
more heavy than others (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
Pentax K-50 Sports photography information
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
62
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
56
environment proof
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than others (650 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography information
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery life (160 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging details
Pentax K-50 Vlogging details
28
decently wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than others (650g)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus VG-120Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-120 Pentax K-50
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life 160 pictures 410 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $190 $610