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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N 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 NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very close but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The VG-120 was launched 9 months earlier than the NEX-5N and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a short view of how the VG-120 scores versus the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony NEX-5N

 VG-120 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus VG-120

 NEX-5N VG-120 
ReleasedOctober 2011January 2011More recent by 9 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony NEX-5N

 VG-120 NEX-5N 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 offers outer 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 NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the VG-120 vs the NEX-5N.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and NEX-5N is 96 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through technical specs. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-120 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
33
good MP (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (160 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
58
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
62
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
better than average battery life (460 CIPA)
supports touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
no Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography advice
36
fairly wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (160 per charge)
no Timelapse function
71
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
28
fairly wide (26mm)
has face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
33
has touchscreen
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no mic socket
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-01-06 2011-10-03
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 gr (0.26 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 160 photographs 460 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $190 $550