Clicky

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 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
  • Launched January 2012
Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus VG-160 and Sony TX20, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the TX20 (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The VG-160 was manufactured within a month of the TX20 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the VG-160 matches up against the TX20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony TX20

 VG-160 TX20 

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Olympus VG-160

 TX20 VG-160 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony TX20

 VG-160 TX20 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-160 comes with 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 TX20 has sizing of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 and Sony TX20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the VG-160 and the TX20.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and TX20 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and TX20.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony TX20 to provide more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography advice
Sony TX20 Portrait photography advice
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
40
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography highlights
Sony TX20 Street photography highlights
56
lighter than others in class (125g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
Sports photography with Sony TX20
26
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (165 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery (250 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography features
Sony TX20 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others in class (125g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (165 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
72
good battery (250 shots)
environment proofing
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography details
Sony TX20 Landscape photography details
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery power (165 per charge)
no Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
good battery (250 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX20 as a Vlogging camera
30
rather wide (26mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony TX20
 Olympus VG-160Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2012-01-10 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range 7cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lb) 133 gr (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 images 250 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $90 $330