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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 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
  • Released January 2011
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2006
  • Old Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Newer Model is Sony A550
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A100, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and A100 (10MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The VG-120 was launched 4 years after the A100 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VG-120 scores versus the A100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A100

 VG-120 A100 
IntroducedJanuary 2011July 2006More modern by 54 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus VG-120

 A100 VG-120 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A100

 VG-120 A100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 provides exterior measurements 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 Sony A100 has proportions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the VG-120 against the A100.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and A100 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The pic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-120 and A100.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-120 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus VG-120 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern VG-120 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A100 Portrait photography highlights
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
52
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (10MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography factors
Sony A100 Street photography factors
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A100 as a Sports photography camera
26
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
Sony A100 Travel photography advice
62
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (160 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography details
Sony A100 Landscape photography details
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery (160 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
53
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
MP count low (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
Vlogging with Sony A100
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A100
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-06 2006-07-31
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 gr (0.26 pounds) 638 gr (1.41 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 476
Other
Battery life 160 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $190 $1,000