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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Revealed January 2011
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony HX200V
  • Replacement is Sony HX400V
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was announced 3 years before the HX300 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the VG-120 matches up versus the HX300 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony HX300

 VG-120 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus VG-120

 HX300 VG-120 
RevealedFebruary 2013January 2011More recent by 25 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX300

 VG-120 HX300 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-120 features 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 HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the HX300.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and HX300 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The visual below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-120 and HX300.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony HX300 to provide extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
42
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
48
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography info
Sony HX300 Travel photography info
62
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery (160 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Sony HX300
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (160 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
48
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging information
Sony HX300 Vlogging information
28
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
25
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (623 grams)
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX300
 Olympus VG-120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-06 2013-02-20
Body design Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 160 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC -
Storage slots One One
Price at release $190 $339