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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Renewed by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic LZ20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was manufactured 6 months earlier than the LZ20 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the VG-160 matches up against the LZ20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Panasonic LZ20

 VG-160 LZ20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus VG-160

 LZ20 VG-160 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic LZ20

 VG-160 LZ20 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2012Same age
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 comes with outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ20 has specifications of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic LZ20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 against the LZ20.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and LZ20 is 96 and 71 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The graphic here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and LZ20.

To sum up, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic LZ20 to result in greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ20
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
36
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Street photography camera
56
lighter than others in class (125g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than others (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
26
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (165 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
better than average battery (380 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography info
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography info
65
lighter than others in class (125g)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (165 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (525mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (499 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Landscape photography camera
36
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery pack (165 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
45
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging factors
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging factors
30
quite wide (26mm)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than others in class (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
25
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
heavier than others (499g)
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus VG-160Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-160 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus range 7cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 6.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 shots 380 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $90 $250