Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-7

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-7, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The VG-160 was introduced at a similar time to the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VG-160 matches up versus the NEX-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VG-160 & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 and the NEX-7.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and NEX-7 is 96 and 84 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and NEX-7.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will provide you with extra detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively.