Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic GF1

The following is a extensive review of the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic GF1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the GF1 (12MP) is very well matched but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and GF1 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizing.

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The VG-160 was manufactured 2 years after the GF1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VG-160 scores vs the GF1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-160 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery & Panasonic GF1 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 provides exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic GF1 has specifications of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic GF1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the VG-160 compared to the GF1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and GF1 is 96 and 85 respectively.

Normally, its tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The pic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and GF1.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VG-160 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus VG-160 will give you greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The younger VG-160 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.