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Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(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
  • Revealed July 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus VG-145 versus Sony NEX-5, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the VG-145 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-145 was manufactured 14 months after the NEX-5 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the VG-145 matches up vs the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Sony NEX-5

 VG-145 NEX-5 
LaunchedJuly 2011June 2010More modern by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus VG-145

 NEX-5 VG-145 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Sony NEX-5

 VG-145 NEX-5 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-145 provides outer 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 Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-145 versus Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-145 compared to the NEX-5.

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-145 and NEX-5 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-145 and NEX-5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The VG-145 includes the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The more modern VG-145 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-145
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
48
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-145
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
26
MP count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (160 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography advice
62
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery power (160 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
36
really wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (160 per charge)
no Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging advice
28
really wide (26mm)
comes with face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone port
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Olympus VG-145 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus VG-145Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-145 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-07-27 2010-06-07
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life 160 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $599