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Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30

Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Ricoh WG-30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 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
Ricoh WG-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Released October 2014
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Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus VG-120 and Ricoh WG-30, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the WG-30 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was released 4 years earlier than the WG-30 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Ricoh WG-30 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the VG-120 grades against the WG-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Ricoh WG-30

 VG-120 WG-30 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30 over the Olympus VG-120

 WG-30 VG-120 
ReleasedOctober 2014January 2011More recent by 45 months

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Ricoh WG-30

 VG-120 WG-30 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 provides outside dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Ricoh WG-30 has dimensions of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VG-120 and Ricoh WG-30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the VG-120 versus the WG-30.

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and WG-30 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and WG-30.

To sum up, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Ricoh WG-30 to produce more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Ricoh WG-30 Portrait photography details
33
good resolution (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Ricoh WG-30
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Ricoh WG-30
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh WG-30 as a Travel photography camera
62
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
weather proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography factors
Ricoh WG-30 Landscape photography factors
36
decently wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
43
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (16MP)
weather proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
Ricoh WG-30 Vlogging advice
28
decently wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
33
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus VG-120 vs Ricoh WG-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Ricoh WG-30
 Olympus VG-120Ricoh WG-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Ricoh
Model type Olympus VG-120 Ricoh WG-30
Type Ultracompact Waterproof
Announced 2011-01-06 2014-10-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 3.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 (30p), 1280 x 720
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 lb) 192g (0.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 160 photographs 300 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $190 $428