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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-160 was brought out 8 months before the A57 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the VG-160 matches up versus the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony A57

 VG-160 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus VG-160

 A57 VG-160 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2012More recent by 8 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony A57

 VG-160 A57 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 comes with external measurements 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 A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the VG-160 versus the A57.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and A57 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The photograph below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and A57.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The VG-160 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A57 will deliver extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older VG-160 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography features
Sony A57 Portrait photography features
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
56
lighter than competition (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
Sports photography with Sony A57
27
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (165 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
Travel photography with Sony A57
66
lighter than competition (125 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (165 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
37
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery (165 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging factors
Sony A57 Vlogging factors
30
decently wide (26mm)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic socket
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony A57
 Olympus VG-160Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-160 Sony SLT-A57
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-10 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 618 grams (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 165 pictures 550 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $90 $1,000