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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus VG-160 and Sony WX500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the WX500 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VG-160 grades versus the WX500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony WX500

 VG-160 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus VG-160

 WX500 VG-160 
IntroducedApril 2015January 2012Newer by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony WX500

 VG-160 WX500 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-160 and Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 versus the WX500.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and WX500 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The pic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and WX500.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony WX500 to deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX500 Portrait photography highlights
33
resolution is good (14MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
39
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
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 details
Sony WX500 Street photography details
56
lighter than competition (125 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (236g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography advice
Sony WX500 Sports photography advice
26
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (165 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
good battery (360 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography information
Sony WX500 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition (125g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (165 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery (360 shots)
lighter than competitors (236g)
good MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX500 Landscape photography advice
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery pack (165 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
good battery (360 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
30
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
35
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (236 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony WX500
 Olympus VG-160Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 7cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 236 grams (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 360 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $90 $348