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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly similar but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The VG-120 was released 20 months earlier than the NEX-5R making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the VG-120 matches up against the NEX-5R when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 VG-120 NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R VG-120 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011More recent by 20 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 VG-120 NEX-5R 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

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

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 comes with outside 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) while the Sony NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the VG-120 compared to the NEX-5R.

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

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and NEX-5R is 96 and 89 respectively.

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

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

Normally, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-120 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony NEX-5R will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5R Street photography info
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
features touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Sports photography camera
26
megapixel count good (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
68
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography info
62
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (160 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
73
features touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
36
quite wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery power (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (26mm)
features face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
31
touchscreen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-01-06 2012-08-29
Body design 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 99
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 7cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 grams (0.26 pounds) 276 grams (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life 160 images 330 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $190 $750