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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 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 WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony WX500, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the VG-120 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was launched 5 years prior to the WX500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the VG-120 grades versus the WX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony WX500

 VG-120 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus VG-120

 WX500 VG-120 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2011More recent by 51 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony WX500

 VG-120 WX500 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus VG-120 provides outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the VG-120 against the WX500.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and WX500 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The visual here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and WX500.

All in all, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony WX500 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older VG-120 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
39
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
Sony WX500 Street photography details
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (160 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 shots)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography factors
Sony WX500 Travel photography factors
62
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
megapixel count good (18MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VG-120
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
36
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery power (160 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
great battery life (360 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
28
rather wide (26mm)
has face detect autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
35
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony WX500
 Olympus VG-120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-06 2015-04-14
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz X
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 7cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 120g (0.26 lbs) 236g (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 pictures 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $190 $348