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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
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
  • Revealed August 2012
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus VH-515, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the VH-515 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and VH-515 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 9 months earlier than the VH-515 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 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 short summation of how the E-PM1 scores vs the VH-515 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus VH-515

 E-PM1 VH-515 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus E-PM1

 VH-515 E-PM1 
RevealedAugust 2012November 2011More recent by 9 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus VH-515

 E-PM1 VH-515 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Olympus VH-515 has measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus VH-515 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 against the VH-515.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and VH-515 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and VH-515.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PM1 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The older E-PM1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
27
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Street photography camera
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus by touch
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
45
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
has focus by touch
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
really wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Olympus VH-515 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
35
really wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus VH-515
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus VH-515
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-11-23 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash modes 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
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 152 grams (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Type of battery 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
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $499 $648