Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30
96 Imaging
37 Features
24 Overall
31


75 Imaging
63 Features
85 Overall
71
Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-120 & Samsung NX30. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus VG-120 Gallery & Samsung NX30 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2014 | ![]() | January 2011 | Fresher by 36 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1036k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer 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 size | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung NX30 Specifications
Olympus VG-120 | Samsung 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 |