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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 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
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A390, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The VG-120 was launched 6 months after the A390 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the VG-120 matches up versus the A390 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A390

 VG-120 A390 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus VG-120

 A390 VG-120 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A390

 VG-120 A390 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011July 2010Similar age
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 has physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A390 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the VG-120 vs the A390.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and A390 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-120 and A390.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The VG-120 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A390 as a Portrait photography camera
33
resolution is good (14MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography information
Sony A390 Street photography information
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
26
resolution is good (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (160 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Sony A390
62
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery power (160 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography advice
Sony A390 Landscape photography advice
36
relatively wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery power (160 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
61
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery life (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
Vlogging with Sony A390
28
relatively wide (26mm)
has face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
9
no video
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A390
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-01-06 2010-07-28
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 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 format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120g (0.26 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 160 shots 230 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $190 $500