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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Announced August 2012
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus VH-515, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and VH-515 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was announced 7 years after the VH-515 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-M5 III grades versus the VH-515 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus VH-515

 E-M5 III VH-515 
AnnouncedOctober 2019August 2012More modern by 88 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 VH-515 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus VH-515

 E-M5 III VH-515 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has got outside measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has proportions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus VH-515 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 III vs the VH-515.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and VH-515 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and VH-515.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 III will provide greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 III will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
27
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Olympus VH-515 Street photography factors
83
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus via touch
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (310 per charge)
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Travel photography advice
77
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
decent MP (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
low battery pack (310 CIPA)
62
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Olympus VH-515
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
low battery pack (310 per charge)
37
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
84
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic port
35
relatively wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus VH-515
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus VH-515
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2019-10-17 2012-08-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII TruePic III+
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 152 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $1,199 $648