Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500
96 Imaging
37 Features
26 Overall
32


87 Imaging
67 Features
80 Overall
72
Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
- 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
- Launched January 2012
(Full Review)
- 28MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/6000s Max Shutter
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Samsung NX Mount
- 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
- Introduced February 2015
- Old Model is Samsung NX300

Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Overview
Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Samsung. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

The VG-160 was released 4 years before the NX500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the VG-160 grades against the NX500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-160 and Samsung NX500. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Samsung NX500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Samsung NX500
VG-160 | NX500 |
---|
Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus VG-160
NX500 | VG-160 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2015 | ![]() | January 2012 | More modern by 37 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 1036k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+806k dot) |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Samsung NX500
VG-160 | NX500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen |
Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison
For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Samsung NX500 has proportions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
Check out the Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the VG-160 versus the NX500.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and NX500 is 96 and 87 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison
Often, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and NX500.
As you can see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Samsung NX500 will show more detail as a result of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications
Olympus VG-160 | Samsung NX500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Olympus | Samsung |
Model | Olympus VG-160 | Samsung NX500 |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Launched | 2012-01-10 | 2015-02-06 |
Body design | Compact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | DRIMe 5 |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 28MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 6480 x 4320 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Max enhanced ISO | - | 51200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 209 |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Samsung NX |
Lens focal range | 26-130mm (5.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-6.5 | - |
Macro focus range | 7cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 32 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 230k dot | 1,036k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/6000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | - | 9.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 4.80 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in | Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) | 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 4096x2160 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | H.265 |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 125 gr (0.28 lbs) | 287 gr (0.63 lbs) |
Dimensions | 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") | 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 87 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 24.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.9 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1379 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 165 photographs | 370 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | LI-70B | BP1130 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 - 30 secs) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Cost at release | $90 | $800 |