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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Released August 2012
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VH-515, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and VH-515 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was launched 3 months before the VH-515 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-M5 scores vs the VH-515 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M5 VH-515 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kSharper display (+150k dot)

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

 VH-515 E-M5 

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

 E-M5 VH-515 
ReleasedApril 2012August 2012Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 has outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VH-515 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 versus the VH-515.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and VH-515 is 81 and 95 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The visual underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and VH-515.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M5 will give more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
27
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Street photography advice
82
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
does not have phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Olympus VH-515 Travel photography details
66
weather sealing
features focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
62
provides touch focus
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
does not have Time Lapse function
37
fairly wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
35
fairly wide (26mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus VH-515
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus VH-515
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-30 2012-08-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 610k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 pounds) 152g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $799 $648