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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Launched January 2011
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX7V, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was announced 6 months before the HX7V so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the VG-120 matches up vs the HX7V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony HX7V

 VG-120 HX7V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus VG-120

 HX7V VG-120 
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX7V

 VG-120 HX7V 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011July 2011Same generation
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 comes with exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony HX7V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX7V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the VG-120 versus the HX7V.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and HX7V is 96 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and HX7V.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony HX7V to result in extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography information
Sony HX7V Portrait photography information
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography features
Sony HX7V Street photography features
48
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
Sony HX7V Sports photography information
26
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (160 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-120
Travel photography with Sony HX7V
62
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (160 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Landscape photography camera
36
really wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery power (160 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX7V Vlogging highlights
28
really wide (26mm)
offers face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
32
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus VG-120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-06 2011-07-19
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 grams (0.26 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $190 $499