Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic SZ1

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic SZ1, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VG-145 was introduced 5 months earlier than the SZ1 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VG-145 matches up versus the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-145 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-145 Gallery & Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-145 features exterior measurements 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 Panasonic SZ1 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic SZ1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-145 vs the SZ1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-145 and SZ1 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching technical specs. The picture underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-145 and SZ1.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ1 to result in greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively.