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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony A500, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively similar but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The VG-120 was released 17 months after the A500 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VG-120 grades versus the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A500

 VG-120 A500 
IntroducedJanuary 2011August 2009More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus VG-120

 A500 VG-120 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A500

 VG-120 A500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 offers external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the VG-120 against the A500.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The pic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and A500.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-120 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus VG-120 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The younger VG-120 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Sony A500
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
26
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Sony A500
62
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
43
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
36
really wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (160 shots)
missing Timelapse function
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
28
really wide (26mm)
offers face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A500
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-06 2009-08-27
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 160 shots 520 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $190 $638