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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 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
  • Announced January 2011
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A99
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A900, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and A900 (25MP) and the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-120 was revealed 2 years later than the A900 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the VG-120 scores vs the A900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A900

 VG-120 A900 
LaunchedJanuary 2011October 2008Fresher by 27 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Olympus VG-120

 A900 VG-120 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A900

 VG-120 A900 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-120 enjoys physical 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 A900 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A900 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the VG-120 compared to the A900.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and A900 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and A900.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VG-120 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A900 will give you more detail because of its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern VG-120 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Sony A900 Portrait photography details
33
decent MP (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
has manual focus
great MP (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
Sony A900 Street photography advice
48
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
Sony A900 Sports photography information
26
decent MP (14MP)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography features
Sony A900 Travel photography features
62
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
environment proof
great MP (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography info
Sony A900 Landscape photography info
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery (160 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging info
Sony A900 Vlogging info
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
9
no video
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A900
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-01-06 2008-10-22
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 grams (0.26 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 160 shots 880 shots
Form 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 type SD/SDHC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots 1 Two
Cost at launch $190 $2,736