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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus VG-160 versus Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-160 was launched 17 months later than the A55 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the VG-160 grades against the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A55

 VG-160 A55 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2010Fresher by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus VG-160

 A55 VG-160 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A55

 VG-160 A55 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 provides external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 versus Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 vs the A55.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and A55.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A55 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher VG-160 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-160
Portrait photography with Sony A55
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-160
Street photography with Sony A55
56
lighter than competition (125g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
77
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
26
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (165 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (125g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (165 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery pack (165 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
67
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (380 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
30
rather wide (26mm)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
78
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony A55
 Olympus VG-160Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony SLT-A55
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-10 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 7cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 165 photos 380 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $90 $800