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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 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
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) use different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-160 was manufactured 22 months later than the A850 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the VG-160 matches up versus the A850 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A850

 VG-160 A850 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2010Fresher by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus VG-160

 A850 VG-160 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A850

 VG-160 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 and the A850.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and A850 is 96 and 54 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and A850.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will show more detail due to its extra 11MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more recent VG-160 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
Portrait photography with Sony A850
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
you can focus manually
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography highlights
Sony A850 Street photography highlights
56
lighter than average (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography factors
Sony A850 Sports photography factors
26
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (165 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography details
Sony A850 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average (125g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (165 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
weather proof
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
36
relatively wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery pack (165 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
no liveview
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
Sony A850 Vlogging details
30
relatively wide (26mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
9
no video recording
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony A850
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-10 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250s
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 pounds) 895 grams (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 165 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots 1 Dual
Price at launch $90 $0