Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-6

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-6, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is relatively close but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The VG-160 was brought out 14 months earlier than the NEX-6 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the VG-160 grades versus the NEX-6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VG-160 and Sony Alpha NEX-6. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Sony NEX-6 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 offers physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-6 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-6 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the VG-160 against the NEX-6.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and NEX-6 is 96 and 85 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and NEX-6.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-6 will render more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.