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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Revealed August 2012
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was brought out 4 months later than the ZS20 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the VH-515 matches up against the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Panasonic ZS20

 VH-515 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus VH-515

 ZS20 VH-515 

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS20

 VH-515 ZS20 
RevealedAugust 2012April 2012Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 has got 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 ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the VH-515 and the ZS20.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and ZS20 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and ZS20.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS20 to give you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
27
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography features
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch focus
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than average (206 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography advice
62
provides touch focus
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than average (206 grams)
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery life (260 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VH-515
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
37
really wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (260 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
35
really wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus VH-515Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VH-515 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-08-21 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152 grams (0.34 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 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 One One
Cost at release $648 $349