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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Introduced January 2017
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic FZ80, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and FZ80 (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was brought out 6 years earlier than the FZ80 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the VG-160 scores versus the FZ80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Panasonic FZ80

 VG-160 FZ80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Olympus VG-160

 FZ80 VG-160 
IntroducedJanuary 2017January 2012More recent by 60 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic FZ80

 VG-160 FZ80 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 has outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ80 has specifications of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") along with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic FZ80 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 against the FZ80.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and FZ80 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and FZ80.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic FZ80 to resolve more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The older VG-160 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ80
33
decent MP (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
58
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ80 Street photography information
56
lighter than competitors in class (125 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (616 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography advice
26
decent MP (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (165 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (165 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
has touch to focus
resolution is good (18MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
more heavy than competition (616 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography highlights
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (165 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
57
has manual focus
decently wide (20mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging factors
30
reasonably wide (26mm)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
28
decently wide (20mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competition (616 grams)
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic FZ80
 Olympus VG-160Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-160 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2017-01-04
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125g (0.28 lbs) 616g (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 photos 330 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $90 $399