Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic L1

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic L1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and L1 (7MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and L1 (Four Thirds) use different sensor size.

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The VG-160 was launched 4 years after the L1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the VG-160 scores versus the L1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Panasonic L1 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 provides outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic L1 has specifications of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic L1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 vs the L1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and L1 is 96 and 65 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The picture here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and L1.

Clearly, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VG-160 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus VG-160 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern VG-160 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.