Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-3

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony NEX-3, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The VG-120 was brought out 8 months after the NEX-3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the VG-120 grades versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus VG-120 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-120 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-120 enjoys physical dimensions 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 NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-120 compared to the NEX-3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and NEX-3 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and NEX-3.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The VG-120 includes the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder. The fresher VG-120 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.