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Olympus VG-160

 
Olympus VG-160 front
 
  • 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
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus VG-160 overview

Olympus VG-160 is Olympus's Small Sensor Compact camera initially released on January of 2012. It comes with a 14 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4288 x 3216.

The VG-160 is ranked #125 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all around #998 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to use our Smart camera search to see camera listings based on your customized requirements.

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Below is a graph of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Olympus VG-160 family

The Olympus VG-160 comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can take a look at all previous and brand new models as well as main specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-VH-410 front thumbnailOlympus VH-410
VG-160 vs VH-410
26-130mm
F2.8-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VH-515 front thumbnailOlympus VH-515
VG-160 vs VH-515
26-130mm
F2.8-6.5
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-VR-340 front thumbnailOlympus VR-340
VG-160 vs VR-340
24-240mm
F3.0-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VG-160 front thumbnailOlympus VG-16026-130mm
F2.8-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VR-320 front thumbnailOlympus VR-320
VG-160 vs VR-320
24-300mm
F3.0-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-VR-330 front thumbnailOlympus VR-330
VG-160 vs VR-330
24-300mm
F3.0-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
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Olympus VG-160 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of upsides and downsides of the Olympus VG-160 based on factors that are oftentimes viewed as necessary in a camera.

decently wide (26mm)
flash built-in
good min ISO (80)
good zoom range (26-130mm 5.0 x zoom)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than others (125 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
does not have RAW support
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of HDMI support
lack of headphone jack
lack of microphone jack
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of Timelapse function
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
max zoom aperture not good (f6.5)
no external flash support
no moving screen
not so great battery (165 CIPA)
screen has low resolution (230 k dot)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Olympus VG-160 Sensor features

The size of the sensor in the Olympus VG-160 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4288 x 3216 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3.

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The CCD sensor boasts 14 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 80 - 1600. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved therefore you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture below shows the VG-160's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The VG-160 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Olympus VG-160 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus VG-160 dimensions

Olympus VG-160 is 0.28 lb (125 gr or 4.41 oz) and the overall size of the camera is 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr so the Olympus VG-160 is lighter than other rivals.

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Below is a visual of the Olympus VG-160 with a softdrink so you can have a feel for its size.

Olympus VG-160 dimensions scale

The top view here will provide the button design on the VG-160.

Olympus VG-160 topview buttons dials

Olympus VG-160 Lens features

The VG-160 offers a built-in lens with a focal range of 26-130mm making it a 5.0 x zoom which won't be very good but it would certainly be convenient in a few conditions.

At it's widest 26mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 and that is kind of sluggish and not good in low light conditions and you will probably find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You will also have to up your ISO setting producing noisy files. Towards the long end, 130mm comes with f6.5 making it really sluggish and you will have to go with slow shutter speeds.

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Olympus VG-160 Connectivity

The VG-160 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can send photos and usually adjust settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

Several apps also allow a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. A good number of cameras will allow you to charge the battery with the USB socket.

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Olympus VG-160 Video features

The maximum video resolution in the Olympus VG-160 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should try to get at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The body doesn't feature a mic and headphone socket which means that you have got zero control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to take a look at another camera should you require good sound in your video clips.

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Olympus VG-160 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Olympus VG-160 so you have to be cautious in rainy or dusty situations.

Olympus VG-160 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus VG-160 comes with a 3" fixed display with a resolution of 230k dots.

Please note that the display screen offers no touch support.

Olympus VG-160 screen and viewfinder Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

The View Finder specs regarding Olympus VG-160 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are pretty useful in bright outdoor situations which can make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Olympus VG-160 Shutter features

The max shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Olympus VG-160 Flash and Hot shoe features

Olympus VG-160 includes just in-built flash lacking external flash ability.

Olympus VG-160 Autofocus features

Olympus VG-160 includes only Contrast Based AF and doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster and precise than Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detect which can be handy for portraits.

Olympus VG-160 doesn't have manual focusing. Manual focusing is good in low light scenarios or you want more precise control on focusing.

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Olympus VG-160 Battery life

The battery (LI-70B) for the Olympus VG-160 is fashioned to last for 165 shots with respect to the CIPA measurements which is lower than its rivals. The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 features the highest possible (470) battery life in this group of cameras.

Following is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that have the highest battery life:

Olympus VG-160 for different styles of photography

The following graph shows a overview of the Olympus VG-160 for different styles of photography. To see more, check out the specific section below.

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography information

The Olympus VG-160 receives a rating of 34 which is awful, meaning that it is not suitable to use for portraits. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor size, support for RAW photos plus the capability to use external lighting.

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good MP (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Street photography with Olympus VG-160

Getting a reasonable score of 56, the Olympus VG-160 is somewhat appropriate for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography features

A awful sports photography points tally of 27 indicates the Olympus VG-160 is not suitable for shooting sports. A camera must have fantastic autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (165 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus

Olympus VG-160 as a Travel photography camera

Size is very important when choosing a travel camera. All things considered, the Olympus VG-160 gets a above average 66 as a travelling camera which is a fine option to take on your vacations.

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lighter than competition (125g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (165 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera

When you are looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the biggest factor will be image quality. The Olympus VG-160 and it's awful rating of 37 as a landscape camera is not suitable within the current marketplace.

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reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery pack (165 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160

A vlogging camera preferably should offer a moving display, mic input and ideally IBIS. Considering all the details, the Olympus VG-160 is not suitable for vlogging as it gets a awful rating of 30.

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really wide (26mm)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than average (125 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket

Olympus VG-160 Alternatives

If you are trying to find alternatives to the VG-160, below is a number of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The line graph below provides you a summary of the VG-160 vs it's highest ranking rivals mentioned earlier.

These are various other cameras you may check out as alternative options. To look at a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Olympus
Model type
Olympus VG-160
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Revealed
2012-01-10
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3
Full resolution
4288 x 3216
RAW images
Max native ISO
1600
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range
7cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3 inches
Resolution of display
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech
TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
4.80 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video format
Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
125 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions
96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
Other
Battery life
165 shots
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery ID
LI-70B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC
Storage slots
1
Retail pricing
$90