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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
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
  • Revealed August 2012
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and VH-515 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was released around the same time to the VH-515 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL5 grades vs the VH-515 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus VH-515

 E-PL5 VH-515 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus E-PL5

 VH-515 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus VH-515

 E-PL5 VH-515 
RevealedSeptember 2012August 2012Same generation
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has proportions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 vs 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 change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the VH-515.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and VH-515 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and VH-515.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
27
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Olympus VH-515 Street photography information
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography factors
Olympus VH-515 Travel photography factors
75
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
62
supports touch to focus
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
37
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging info
Olympus VH-515 Vlogging info
78
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
35
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus VH-515
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus VH-515
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-09-17 2012-08-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
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 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 152 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $400 $648