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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The VG-120 was manufactured 19 months before the NEX-F3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the VG-120 grades versus the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony NEX-F3

 VG-120 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus VG-120

 NEX-F3 VG-120 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011More recent by 19 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony NEX-F3

 VG-120 NEX-F3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 offers 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) and the Sony NEX-F3 has dimensions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the VG-120 compared to the NEX-F3.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and NEX-F3 is 96 and 86 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The photograph here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and NEX-F3.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The VG-120 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony NEX-F3 will provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-F3
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography advice
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Sony NEX-F3
26
MP count good (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (160 per charge)
no phase detect AF
53
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (470 per charge)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography advice
62
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
better than average battery (470 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography highlights
36
fairly wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery life (160 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging advice
28
fairly wide (26mm)
features face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
27
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external mic socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus VG-120Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-01-06 2012-08-16
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
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 distance 7cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 grams (0.26 lbs) 314 grams (0.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 160 shots 470 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $190 $470