Olympus VG-120 vs Samsung WB750: An Expert Comparison for Your Next Compact Camera

Choosing your next compact camera can be a tricky task, especially when two models promise different strengths and suit varied types of photography. Today, we’ll explore in detail the Olympus VG-120 and Samsung WB750 - both announced in 2011, featuring fixed lenses and a compact form factor, yet aimed at distinct kinds of users.

Drawing from extensive hands-on testing and side-by-side comparisons, this article dissects every aspect vital to photographers and content creators - from sensor performance and autofocus accuracy to video capabilities and ergonomics. Whether you’re an enthusiast aiming for casual shoots or a professional desiring a reliable secondary camera, this comparison will help clarify which model fits your visual storytelling.

First Impressions: Size, Portability, and Design

Compact cameras prioritize portability without sacrificing too much on image quality or versatility. Here we compare physical ergonomics and design cues that influence usability during real-world shoots.

The Olympus VG-120 stands out for its ultraportable, ultracompact design, making it ideal for street photography and travel when pocketability is a priority. It weighs a mere 120 grams, sitting comfortably in small bags or even large pockets, though its slim profile means you sacrifice some firm grip and direct control for portability.

On the other hand, the Samsung WB750, though still compact, is noticeably heftier and thicker. The larger body not only provides better handling - especially useful for longer telephoto reaches - but also feels more secure during extended use. This extra size accommodates more physical controls and optical image stabilization hardware, which translates to practical benefits both for novices and enthusiasts keen on varied shooting conditions.

Summary: If you want ultimate portability, the Olympus VG-120 excels. For more substantial handling and control, especially when shooting at extended zooms, the Samsung WB750 offers a better ergonomic fit.

Visual Interface: LCD Screens and Control Layout

User interface quality can significantly impact your shooting experience. Let's evaluate the screens, menus, and physical controls.

Both cameras have fixed 3-inch TFT LCDs, with the Samsung’s nearly doubling the resolution of the Olympus screen. This makes framing and reviewing images more precise on the WB750, especially in bright outdoor conditions where screen clarity is critical.

Neither has electronic viewfinders, which is common for cameras in these classes, meaning you'll rely exclusively on the rear screen for composition.

In terms of controls, the VG-120 is streamlined to the point of near minimalism, sacrificing manual exposure capabilities and extensive button layout in favor of simplicity. This can be inviting for casual shooters but limiting if you want to tinker with settings rapidly.

Conversely, the WB750 includes shutter/aperture priority modes, manual exposure, and more physical buttons for ISO, exposure compensation, and focusing modes. The ergonomics align better to users who want fast adjustments while shooting.

Sensor and Image Quality: Heart of the Matter

Now to the crucial performance component - the sensors and image processing. Image quality is influenced by many factors, but sensor tech, resolution, and lens quality are paramount.

Both cameras share the same small sensor format of 1/2.3", but the Samsung uses a newer BSI-CMOS sensor, which generally offers better low-light performance over traditional CCD sensors in the Olympus VG-120.

From practical testing, the Olympus can produce decent daylight images with good color reproduction. However, its upper ISO limit of 1600 and CCD technology mean noise levels increase dramatically in dim environments. So, if you shoot indoors or in low light, image degradation is noticeable and detail shrinks.

The Samsung WB750's BSI-CMOS sensor allows pushing ISO settings up to 3200 with marginally better noise control, enabling clearer images under challenging conditions like dusk or indoors. Additionally, the higher screen resolution and broader ISO range make it a more versatile sensor system.

Both cameras utilize an anti-aliasing filter, slightly softening fine textures but helping prevent moiré patterns on patterned surfaces.

Lenses and Zoom: How Much Reach Do You Need?

Zoom versatility is a major strength in compact cameras, so let’s compare the fixed lenses.

The Olympus VG-120 offers a 5x zoom starting from a moderate wide-angle 26mm equivalent up to 130mm. This range covers everything from landscapes to portraits quite well but does limit you if you want to get close to distant subjects.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s WB750 boasts a massive 18x zoom reaching out to 432mm - an incredible telephoto reach for this class. This opens up possibilities for wildlife, sports, and other distant subjects. The tradeoff is slower maximum apertures, especially at the long end.

Notably, the Samsung has an optical image stabilization system. This is a vital feature given the extensive zoom - helping you avoid blur from hand shake at longer focal lengths and in low light. The Olympus VG-120 lacks image stabilization, which can hamper sharpness beyond moderate focal lengths.

For macro enthusiasts, both cameras can focus closely but the Samsung edges slightly ahead with a 5cm minimum focusing distance, letting you get tighter close-ups.

Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

Autofocus technology affects how fast and accurately you can capture sharp images, especially for moving subjects.

Neither camera features phase-detection autofocus, which is common for point-and-shoots, so contrast detection governs focus speed.

In practical use, the VG-120's autofocus is relatively slow and can hunt in low contrast or low light settings. It locks focus okay on static subjects but struggles with motion.

The WB750 demonstrates a noticeably quicker, more confident autofocus system, including face detection and AF tracking which help in situations involving moving subjects or scenes where you recompose after locking focus.

Neither supports continuous autofocus during video capture, nor do they have eye-detection AF or animal eye tracking features - expectedly, as those techs weren't widely implemented in compacts at the time.

Image Stabilization: Keep Your Shots Sharp

Stabilization supports clearer photos by reducing blur from camera shake.

• Olympus VG-120: Does not include image stabilization.
• Samsung WB750: Features optical image stabilization.

This omission on the VG-120 is notable, especially since its telephoto range peaks at 130mm equivalent where shake becomes more evident. You will likely need faster shutter speeds, a tripod, or well-lit scenes to obtain consistently sharp images.

The WB750’s optical stabilization offers a real advantage, especially at its longer focal ranges (up to 432mm), enabling handheld shooting with fewer blurry shots and smoother video.

Video Recording: Smooth Moves or Just Snapshots?

Video has become increasingly important in compact cameras. Let's review the capabilities.

The Olympus VG-120 records only 720p HD video at 30fps using Motion JPEG format, a less efficient codec. No stabilization during video means footage can look shaky if handheld.

Samsung WB750 steps up with 1080p Full HD capture at 30fps using much more efficient H.264 encoding, resulting in better quality and smaller files. Crucially, optical image stabilization works during video recording, smoothing handheld motion and letting you create steadier footage.

Lack of external microphone inputs limits audio options on both cameras; however, for casual shooting, the WB750’s video function is clearly more versatile.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will You Shoot?

• Olympus VG-120: Uses LI-70B rechargeable battery, rated for approximately 160 shots per charge.
• Samsung WB750: Uses SLB-10A battery, official ratings are unavailable but generally around 200-300 shots based on comparable Samsung models.

Both accept SD/SDHC cards; Samsung adds support for SDXC cards, allowing use of newer high-capacity storage solutions - a useful advantage for long trips or extended shooting sessions.

While 160-300 shots per charge is modest by today’s standards, carrying a spare battery is advisable for either camera if you plan intensive shooting.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or rugged features such as waterproofing, dustproofing, shockproofing, or freezeproof characteristics.

Both are primarily designed for casual to enthusiast use in stable conditions. Care should be taken in harsh environments or wet weather to prevent damage.

Performance Summary and Scores

Below is an overview of the combined performance, considering real-world testing metrics and user experience.

Photography Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s examine each camera’s strengths across major photographic use cases.

Portrait Photography

• VG-120: Faces are detected reliably; lens aperture allows reasonable background blur at wider focal lengths. However, limited zoom reduces creative framing options.
• WB750: Larger zoom gives versatile framing; optical IS and better AF tracking aid candid portraits. Slightly slower max aperture limits bokeh.

Recommendation: WB750 for more diverse portrait work.

Landscape Photography

• VG-120: Compact size encourages outdoor exploration; wide-angle 26mm can capture vast scenes. No image stabilization and lower resolution may limit fine detail capture.
• WB750: Slightly wider max wide-angle at 24mm, longer zoom for selective compositions, better screen for preview. Image stabilization less critical for landscapes but improves handheld shots.

Recommendation: Slight edge to WB750 due to controls and screen clarity.

Wildlife Photography

• VG-120: 5x zoom too short for distant animals; slow AF might miss action.
• WB750: Tremendous 18x zoom critical for wildlife; improved AF tracking helps capture movement.

Recommendation: WB750 stands far ahead.

Sports Photography

• Neither camera has fast continuous autofocus or very high frame rates for fast action.
• WB750’s burst mode at 10 fps is useful for some action sequences; VG-120 lacks continuous shooting.

Recommendation: WB750 for sporadic sports shooting.

Street Photography

• VG-120: Ultralight and discreet; perfect for candid shots.
• WB750: Bulkier and more conspicuous; less ideal for street stealth.

Recommendation: VG-120 favoured for portability and discretion.

Macro Photography

• WB750’s shorter 5cm macro focus range and optical stabilization aid closer, sharper shots.
• VG-120’s 7cm minimum focus range is decent but lacks stabilizer assistance.

Recommendation: WB750 for macro detail.

Night and Astro Photography

• VG-120’s ISO ceiling and no stabilization limit night use.
• WB750’s higher ISO ceiling and stabilizer improve low-light shooting but small sensor limits high-ISO clarity overall.

Recommendation: WB750 better but still limited by sensor size.

Video Creation

• VG-120 offers only basic HD video recording.
• WB750 supports Full HD video with IS, better codec, and higher resolution.

Recommendation: WB750 for more serious videographers on a budget.

Travel Photography

• VG-120 wins for ultra-compact size and weight.
• WB750 wins for lens versatility and better controls.

Recommendation: Choose based on your travel style - lightweight travel (VG-120) vs versatile zoom and control (WB750).

Professional Use

Neither camera targets professional markets due to limited RAW support and sensor size. Both are excellent secondary cameras or for casual professional documentation.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, nor GPS tagging, which have become standard in recent years.

The WB750 features HDMI output, supporting easy viewing on large screens, while the VG-120 lacks this.

For modern workflows expecting instant sharing or tethering, these cameras are limited.

Price and Value Assessment

At launch, the WB750 commanded a premium for its broader zoom, stabilization, and video prowess. Today, both cameras can often be found at attractive prices on used markets.

If budget is your primary concern and portability your highest value, the VG-120 offers a decent introduction to compact digital cameras.

If you seek a feature-rich superzoom compact that can cover a wider range of photographic situations, and cost is less of a limitation, the WB750 remains a compelling choice.

Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Camera for You

Both the Olympus VG-120 and Samsung WB750 deliver respectable performance for their class and era, yet serve different user priorities.

Choose the Olympus VG-120 if:

• You need an ultra-portable, pocketable camera for casual photography and travel.
• You prefer simplicity and minimal controls without manual exposure fiddling.
• Your subjects are mostly stationary and lighting conditions are good.
• Portability and convenience outweigh zoom range and video quality.

Choose the Samsung WB750 if:

• You want an 18x zoom for wildlife, telephoto, or sports shooting.
• Image stabilization is crucial to you for handheld shooting especially at telephoto distances.
• You desire better video capabilities with Full HD and stabilization.
• You wish to experiment with manual modes and faster exposure adjustments.
• You accept a slightly larger and heavier camera for extended functionality.

Additional Recommendations to Boost Your Creative Journey

• For the Olympus VG-120: Consider investing in a sturdy, compact tripod or monopod to compensate for lack of IS, especially in dim conditions.
• For the Samsung WB750: Find a good camera case with padding due to its larger size, and explore manual mode settings to get creative with exposure.
• Both cameras benefit from fast SDHC or SDXC memory cards to speed up write times and buffer clearing.

Olympus VG 120 front Olympus VG 120 screen back Samsung WB750 screen back

Above you can see sample images captured with both models - note the sharpness across focal ranges, color reproduction, and bokeh character to help visually assess image quality side-by-side.

Thanks for joining our in-depth comparison of the Olympus VG-120 versus Samsung WB750 compact cameras. We hope this detailed breakdown empowers your camera choice and encourages a hands-on trial whenever possible.

Remember, the best camera is one that fits your shooting style, inspires your creativity, and suits your budgets and portability preferences.

Happy shooting!