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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 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 X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Released August 2012
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax X-5, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is pretty similar and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was brought out 19 months before the X-5 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the VG-120 grades versus the X-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Pentax X-5

 VG-120 X-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Olympus VG-120

 X-5 VG-120 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011More modern by 19 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax X-5

 VG-120 X-5 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 has got external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Pentax X-5 has specifications of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax X-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the X-5.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and X-5 is 96 and 65 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The pic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and X-5.

Plainly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Pentax X-5 to deliver greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged VG-120 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography details
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
43
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography highlights
Pentax X-5 Street photography highlights
48
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition (595g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Pentax X-5
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (160 per charge)
no phase detect AF
52
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
Pentax X-5 Travel photography highlights
62
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (160 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
53
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (22mm)
long zoom (580mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (595g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (160 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
quite wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
28
decently wide (26mm)
includes face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
26
quite wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition (595g)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Pentax X-5
 Olympus VG-120Pentax X-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-120 Pentax X-5
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-06 2012-08-22
Body design Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 7cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230k dot
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 120 grams (0.26 pounds) 595 grams (1.31 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
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 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $190 $230