Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic FZ1000, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and FZ1000 (20MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and FZ1000 (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The VG-160 was released 3 years before the FZ1000 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the VG-160 matches up against the FZ1000 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-160 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery & Panasonic FZ1000 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ1000 has dimensions of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") and a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic FZ1000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 vs the FZ1000.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and FZ1000 is 96 and 55 respectively.

Normally, its tough to see the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and FZ1000.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-160 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FZ1000 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older VG-160 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.