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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Launched August 2012
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus VH-515, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the VH-515 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 4 years before the VH-515 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-P1 matches up vs the VH-515 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus VH-515

 E-P1 VH-515 
Focus manually More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus E-P1

 VH-515 E-P1 
LaunchedAugust 2012July 2009More modern by 37 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus VH-515

 E-P1 VH-515 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 provides outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has specifications of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus VH-515 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 compared to the VH-515.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and VH-515 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and VH-515.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-P1 offers the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
supports face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes focus via touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Travel photography advice
43
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
includes focus via touch
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography details
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
37
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
35
quite wide (26mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus VH-515
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus VH-515
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-29 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 152 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $182 $648