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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The VG-160 was launched 2 years later than the A500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the VG-160 scores against the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A500

 VG-160 A500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009Fresher by 29 months

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus VG-160

 A500 VG-160 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A500

 VG-160 A500 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 has got external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 vs the A500.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and A500.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus VG-160 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent VG-160 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
34
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography advice
Sony A500 Street photography advice
56
lighter than competition (125 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
27
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (165 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
66
lighter than competition (125g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (165 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
43
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (520 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
37
rather wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (165 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
30
rather wide (26mm)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
9
can't record video
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony A500
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-10 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 165 shots 520 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $90 $638