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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-120 was launched 5 months after the A55 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the VG-120 matches up versus the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A55

 VG-120 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus VG-120

 A55 VG-120 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A55

 VG-120 A55 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011August 2010Same generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-120 features outside 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 A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the VG-120 compared to the A55.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and A55.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VG-120 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony A55 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography info
Sony A55 Street photography info
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
Sony A55 Sports photography information
26
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
62
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (160 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (160 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
67
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
28
quite wide (26mm)
features face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
78
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A55
 Olympus VG-120Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-120 Sony SLT-A55
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 160 shots 380 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $190 $800