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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Released January 2011
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was revealed 18 months before the HX20V which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the VG-120 scores against the HX20V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony HX20V

 VG-120 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus VG-120

 HX20V VG-120 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2011Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX20V

 VG-120 HX20V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 has got exterior measurements 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 HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the HX20V.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and HX20V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by checking specifications. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and HX20V.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Sony HX20V to give you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Sony HX20V Portrait photography details
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
45
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
48
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-120
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
26
megapixel count good (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
62
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (160 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
36
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery power (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
50
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
28
relatively wide (26mm)
supports face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus VG-120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-06 2012-07-20
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 160 photos 320 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $190 $397