Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS45

Here, we are looking at the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic ZS45, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is very close and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VG-160 was revealed 4 years earlier than the ZS45 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the VG-160 grades versus the ZS45 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Panasonic ZS45 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 provides physical 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 ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 versus Panasonic ZS45 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-160 vs the ZS45.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and ZS45 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and ZS45.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS45 to result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.