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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N 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 NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly well matched but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-160 was unveiled 4 months after the NEX-5N so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VG-160 scores against the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony NEX-5N

 VG-160 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus VG-160

 NEX-5N VG-160 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-5N

 VG-160 NEX-5N 
RevealedJanuary 2012October 2011Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 provides external dimensions 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 NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 versus the NEX-5N.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and NEX-5N is 96 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and NEX-5N.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5N will give you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography info
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
56
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
26
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (165 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
58
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
65
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (165 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
better than average battery (460 per charge)
features touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (165 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
30
pretty wide (26mm)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
33
touch screen
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.80 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 165 images 460 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $90 $550