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Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Nikon S9500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-550mm (F) lens
  • 205g - 110 x 60 x 31mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon S9300
  • Newer Model is Nikon S9700
Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Launched August 2012
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Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Nikon and Olympus. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the S9500 (18MP) and VH-515 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S9500 was revealed 6 months after the VH-515 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the S9500 scores versus the VH-515 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Olympus VH-515

 S9500 VH-515 
Display resolution614k460kSharper display (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Nikon S9500

 VH-515 S9500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon S9500 and Olympus VH-515

 S9500 VH-515 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2012Same generation
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon S9500 offers outside dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has specifications of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the S9500 vs the VH-515.

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the S9500 and VH-515 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching specs. The pic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S9500 and VH-515.

All in all, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon S9500 to render greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively.

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9500 Portrait photography details
Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography details
31
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
26
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S9500
Street photography with Olympus VH-515
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (205 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (205 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (550mm)
fast maximum aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
62
provides touch to focus
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9500 Landscape photography factors
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
46
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
37
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9500
Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
36
rather wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (205g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
35
decently wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
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Nikon S9500 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9500 and Olympus VH-515
 Nikon Coolpix S9500Olympus VH-515
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9500 Olympus VH-515
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-01-29 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-550mm (22.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech OLED monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.5fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 4.70 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205g (0.45 lbs) 152g (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 230 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 LI-50B
Self timer - Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $230 $648