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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Introduced August 2012
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the VH-515 (12MP) is very close but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was launched 21 months before the VH-515 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1s matches up vs the VH-515 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus VH-515

 E-PL1s VH-515 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 VH-515 E-PL1s 
IntroducedAugust 2012November 2010Newer by 21 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus VH-515

 E-PL1s VH-515 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s offers physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus VH-515 has specifications of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1s vs the VH-515.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and VH-515 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and VH-515.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s includes the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged E-PL1s will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography information
Olympus VH-515 Street photography information
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus via touch
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Olympus VH-515 Sports photography info
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (290 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery (290 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
62
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Olympus VH-515
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Olympus VH-515 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
35
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus VH-515
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus VH-515
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-11-16 2012-08-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
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
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 152 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 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 290 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $648