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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(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
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the A390 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The VG-160 was released 18 months later than the A390 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VG-160 scores against the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A390

 VG-160 A390 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2010More recent by 18 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus VG-160

 A390 VG-160 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A390

 VG-160 A390 
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-160 comes with external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the VG-160 against the A390.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and A390 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The visual here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and A390.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor measurements. The VG-160 features the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF harder. The more recent VG-160 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography info
Sony A390 Portrait photography info
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography highlights
Sony A390 Street photography highlights
56
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography details
Sony A390 Sports photography details
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (165 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography details
Sony A390 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average in class (125g)
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (165 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (230 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A390 Landscape photography highlights
36
decently wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery power (165 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
bad battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
30
decently wide (26mm)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony A390
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-10 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125g (0.28 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 165 photographs 230 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $90 $500