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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS 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
  • Revealed August 2012
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Revealed December 2012
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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus VH-515 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and they are both produced by Olympus. The resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly comparable but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The VH-515 was introduced 3 months earlier than the XZ-2 iHS and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the VH-515 scores against the XZ-2 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VH-515 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus VH-515

 XZ-2 iHS VH-515 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VH-515 XZ-2 iHS 
RevealedAugust 2012December 2012Same generation
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 offers external measurements 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-2 iHS has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

See the Olympus VH-515 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the VH-515 vs the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and XZ-2 iHS is 95 and 85 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VH-515 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The VH-515 offers the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging.

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography features
27
supports face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
46
has manual focus
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography information
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography details
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
great battery power (340 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
62
boasts touch to focus
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
great battery power (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (346g)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
37
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (340 per charge)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging info
35
decently wide (26mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
36
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
heavier than others in class (346g)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus VH-515Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus VH-515 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2012-12-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 35
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 grams (0.34 lbs) 346 grams (0.76 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 216
Other
Battery life - 340 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $648 $450