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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 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
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH20, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is fairly close and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was manufactured 2 years after the FH20 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the VH-515 matches up versus the FH20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Panasonic FH20

 VH-515 FH20 
RevealedAugust 2012January 2010Newer by 32 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus VH-515

 FH20 VH-515 

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH20

 VH-515 FH20 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VH-515 features physical measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the VH-515 and the FH20.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and FH20 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The picture below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VH-515 and FH20.

Plainly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic FH20 to render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more modern VH-515 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography advice
27
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VH-515
Street photography with Panasonic FH20
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Panasonic FH20
62
includes touch to focus
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography details
37
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
37
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
Vlogging with Panasonic FH20
35
rather wide (26mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus VH-515Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VH-515 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 grams (0.34 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $648 $179