Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was revealed 20 months after the FH5 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the VH-515 grades against the FH5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VH-515 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. The full galleries are available at Olympus VH-515 Gallery & Panasonic FH5 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 provides 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) whilst the Panasonic FH5 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the VH-515 compared to the FH5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and FH5 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and FH5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FH5 to provide more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher VH-515 provides an advantage in sensor technology.