Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A850

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A850, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) provide different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The VG-120 was brought out 9 months after the A850 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VG-120 grades versus the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-120 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-120 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A850 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the VG-120 against the A850.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and A850 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Quite often, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and A850.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-120 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A850 will show more detail having its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The newer VG-120 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.