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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 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 A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Successor is Sony A58
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony A57, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the VG-120 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-120 was brought out 20 months prior to the A57 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the VG-120 grades vs the A57 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Sony A57

 VG-120 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus VG-120

 A57 VG-120 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2011More modern by 20 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Sony A57

 VG-120 A57 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-120 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-120 versus Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the VG-120 against the A57.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-120 and A57 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-120 and A57.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VG-120 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A57 will produce more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged VG-120 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
Sony A57 Portrait photography factors
33
decent MP (14MP)
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
Sony A57 Street photography advice
48
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
75
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography information
Sony A57 Sports photography information
26
decent MP (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (160 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
62
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (160 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A57 Landscape photography highlights
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (160 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging information
Sony A57 Vlogging information
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
supports face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
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Olympus VG-120 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Sony A57
 Olympus VG-120Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-120 Sony SLT-A57
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-01-06 2012-09-13
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.26 lbs) 618 grams (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 160 photographs 550 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $190 $1,000