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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Olympus VH-515 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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 TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and VH-515 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was brought out 3 years later than the VH-515 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-870 grades vs the VH-515 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus VH-515

 TG-870 VH-515 
RevealedJanuary 2016August 2012Fresher by 42 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus TG-870

 VH-515 TG-870 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VH-515

 TG-870 VH-515 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-870 has exterior measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Olympus VH-515 has dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-870 against the VH-515.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and VH-515 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and VH-515.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-870 to offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The newer TG-870 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
27
includes face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than others (221 grams)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography highlights
Olympus VH-515 Sports photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
69
great battery life (300 CIPA)
environment proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
heavier than others (221 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
provides focus by touch
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography details
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography details
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery life (300 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
37
relatively wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than others (221g)
35
relatively wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Olympus TG-870 vs Olympus VH-515 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Olympus VH-515
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Olympus VH-515
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Olympus VH-515
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-01-06 2012-08-21
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic III+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 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 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 4.70 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 152 grams (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $280 $648