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Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Samsung NX30 front
Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 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
  • Announced January 2011
Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Older Model is Samsung NX20
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Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Samsung. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and NX30 (20MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and NX30 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The VG-120 was introduced 4 years prior to the NX30 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VG-120 matches up versus the NX30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Samsung NX30

 VG-120 NX30 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Olympus VG-120

 NX30 VG-120 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2011Fresher by 36 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k230kClearer display (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Samsung NX30

 VG-120 NX30 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 has got outside dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Samsung NX30 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") and a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-120 against the NX30.

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and NX30 is 96 and 75 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and NX30.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VG-120 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX30 will give more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography info
Samsung NX30 Street photography info
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
75
screen articulates
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX30 as a Sports photography camera
26
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (160 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography details
Samsung NX30 Travel photography details
62
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
74
includes touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX30 as a Landscape photography camera
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery life (160 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging info
Samsung NX30 Vlogging info
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
includes face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Samsung NX30
 Olympus VG-120Samsung NX30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus VG-120 Samsung NX30
Category Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-01-06 2014-01-03
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III DRIMeIV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 247
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.66x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE 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 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 pounds) 375 gr (0.83 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1014
Other
Battery life 160 photos 360 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B BP1410
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD, SDHC, SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $190 $699