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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 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
  • Released January 2011
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus VG-120 and Sony S950, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and S950 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was introduced 23 months later than the S950 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short view of how the VG-120 matches up vs the S950 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony S950

 VG-120 S950 
LaunchedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus VG-120

 S950 VG-120 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony S950

 VG-120 S950 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-120 has 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) and the Sony S950 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-120 and Sony S950 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the S950.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and S950 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-120 and S950.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus VG-120 to give you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent VG-120 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Sony S950 Portrait photography details
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
26
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Sony S950
48
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography factors
Sony S950 Sports photography factors
26
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (160 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
low fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography advice
Sony S950 Travel photography advice
62
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (160 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
50
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography advice
Sony S950 Landscape photography advice
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (160 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
31
you can focus manually
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
28
rather wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony S950
 Olympus VG-120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-06 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 7cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG 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 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $190 $130