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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Key Specs

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
  • Launched August 2012
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is relatively comparable but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and XZ-1 (1/1.63") feature totally different sensor size.

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The VH-515 was manufactured 20 months after the XZ-1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the VH-515 matches up versus the XZ-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus XZ-1

 VH-515 XZ-1 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011More modern by 20 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus VH-515

 XZ-1 VH-515 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution614k460kCrisper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-1

 VH-515 XZ-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 has exterior dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-1 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the VH-515 vs the XZ-1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and XZ-1 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and XZ-1.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VH-515 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus VH-515 will provide extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern VH-515 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography factors
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography factors
27
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
45
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography info
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features touch focus
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Sports photography camera
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (320 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography info
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography info
62
features touch focus
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
good battery life (320 shots)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Landscape photography camera
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (320 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging details
Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging details
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
31
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus VH-515Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus VH-515 Olympus XZ-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2011-01-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ TruePic V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3664 x 2752
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 275 gr (0.61 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 34
DXO Color Depth score not tested 18.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 117
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $648 $567