Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic GM5

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic GM5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the GM5 (16MP) is very comparable but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and GM5 (Four Thirds) have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The VG-160 was revealed 3 years prior to the GM5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the VG-160 scores versus the GM5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Panasonic GM5 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-160 has external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM5 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic GM5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-160 against the GM5.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and GM5 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Often, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The picture below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and GM5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GM5 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.