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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Released August 2012
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Panasonic FH5

 VH-515 FH5 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011More modern by 20 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus VH-515

 FH5 VH-515 

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH5

 VH-515 FH5 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

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

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography highlights
27
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VH-515
Street photography with Panasonic FH5
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus via touch
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography information
62
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
37
relatively wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
38
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging highlights
35
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
33
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than others in class (121g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus VH-515Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VH-515 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB 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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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) 121 gr (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $648 $169