Olympus VG-130 review
Looks great for the price on paper, but automatic exposures leave a lot to be desired
Specifications
1/2.3in 14.0-megapixel sensor, 5.0x zoom (26-130mm equivalent), 125g
Another option would be to use the Digital Image Stabilisation mode, but this went too far the other way, using excessively fast shutter and ISO speeds that resulted in aggressive noise reduction that gave details a blocky appearance. Switching to Program mode and adjusting the ISO speed manually gave the best results, but that won’t be popular with the casual photographers at whom this camera is aimed.
It’s a pretty fundamental flaw in what is otherwise a competent, keenly priced camera. Photos in well-lit conditions were detailed and balanced, with sharp focus right into the corners of frames. However, there was some noise even at the base ISO 80 sensitivity setting. At its best, image quality was only average for the price. At worst, it was disastrous.
If you’re looking for a cheap, smart, compact digital camera, then you’d be much better off with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3.
Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | ** |
| CCD effective megapixels | 14.0 megapixels |
| CCD size | 1/2.3in |
| Viewfinder | none |
| Viewfinder magnification, coverage | N/A |
| LCD screen size | 3.0in |
| LCD screen resolution | 230,400 pixels |
| Articulated screen | No |
| Live view | Yes |
| Optical zoom | 5.0x |
| Zoom 35mm equivalent | 26-130mm |
| Image stabilisation | none |
| Maximum image resolution | 4,288×3,216 |
| Maximum movie resolution | 1280×720 |
| Movie frame rate at max quality | 30fps |
| File formats | JPEG; AVI (M-JPEG) |
Physical | |
| Memory slot | SDHC |
| Mermory supplied | 49MB internal |
| Battery type | Li-ion |
| Battery Life (tested) | 160 shots |
| Connectivity | USB, AV |
| HDMI output resolution | N/A |
| Body material | aluminium |
| Lens mount | N/A |
| Focal length multiplier | N/A |
| Kit lens model name | N/A |
| Accessories | USB and AV cables |
| Weight | 125g |
| Size | 57x96x20mm |
Buying Information | |
| Warranty | one-year RTB |
| Price | £80 |
| Supplier | http://www.amazon.co.uk |
| Details | www.olympus.co.uk |
Camera Controls | |
| Exposure modes | auto |
| Shutter speed | auto |
| Aperture range | f/2.8 (wide), f/6.5 (tele) |
| ISO range (at full resolution) | 80 to 1600 |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2 EV |
| White balance | auto, 4 presets |
| Additional image controls | none |
| Manual focus | No |
| Closest macro focus | 7cm |
| Auto-focus modes | multi/face detect, spot, tracking |
| Metering modes | multi, face detect |
| Flash | auto, forced, suppressed, red-eye reduction |
| Drive modes | single, continuous, self-timer |