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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
96 Imaging
37 Features
26 Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91 Imaging
39 Features
46 Overall
41

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Launched July 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus VG-160 versus Sony HX9V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was brought out 6 months after the HX9V and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VG-160 grades versus the HX9V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony HX9V

		

		

			
 VG-160 HX9V 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus VG-160

		

		

			
 HX9V VG-160 
Focus manually  Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony HX9V

		

		

			
 VG-160 HX9V 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2011Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen  Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen  Neither offers Touch screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

		

		

			
For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus VG-160 offers external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX9V has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).
Check out the Olympus VG-160 versus Sony HX9V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the VG-160 compared to the HX9V.
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V size comparison
Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and HX9V is 96 and 91 respectively.
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and HX9V.
As you have seen, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX9V to offer more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively.
	
			Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX9V Portrait photography factors
33
 good megapixels (14 megapixels)
 includes face detection focusing
 focusing manually not possible
 manual mode not available
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
39
 manual focus
 good MP (16 megapixels)
 can't use external flash
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison
Olympus VG-160 Street photography information
Sony HX9V Street photography information
56
 lighter than competition (125g)
 screen does not articulate
 lack of image stabilization
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
61
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors (245 grams)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison
Olympus VG-160 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX9V Sports photography highlights
26
 good megapixels (14MP)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 lack of image stabilization
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 not so great battery life (165 CIPA)
 lack of phase detect AF
44
 excellent zoom range (24-384mm  16.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good MP (16 megapixels)
 no shutter priority
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Olympus VG-160 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX9V Travel photography highlights
65
 lighter than competition (125g)
 good megapixels (14 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 quite wide (26mm)
 lack of Timelapse recording
 not so great battery life (165 shots)
 does not feature selfie friendly display
 slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
 lighter than competitors (245 grams)
 good MP (16MP)
 built-in flash
 fairly wide (24mm)
 very long reach (384mm)
 doesn't have Time Lapse function
 display is not selfie friendly
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-160
Landscape photography with Sony HX9V
36
 quite wide (26mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 good megapixels (14 megapixels)
 focusing manually not possible
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f2.8)
 manual mode not available
 lack of image stabilization
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 not so great battery life (165 per charge)
 lack of Timelapse recording
49
 manual focus
 fairly wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good MP (16MP)
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX9V Vlogging highlights
30
 quite wide (26mm)
 includes face detection focusing
 lighter than competition (125g)
 slow max aperture (f2.8)
 does not feature selfie friendly display
 lack of image stabilization
 low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
 lack of external microphone jack
33
 fairly wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 lighter than competitors (245g)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 display is not selfie friendly
 doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony HX9V
 Olympus VG-160Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and  16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 7cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Display technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 4.80 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 125g (0.28 lbs) 245g (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording    
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $90 $328