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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
95 Imaging
35 Features
34 Overall
34
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92 Imaging
35 Features
30 Overall
33

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 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
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS5, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was released 2 years after the ZS5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the VH-515 scores against the ZS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Panasonic ZS5

          

          

            
 VH-515 ZS5 
AnnouncedAugust 2012June 2010More modern by 27 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen  Quickly navigate
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus VH-515

          

          

            
 ZS5 VH-515 
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS5

          

          

            
 VH-515 ZS5 
Manual focus  Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen  Neither contains selfie screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VH-515 has got outer dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).
Look at the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the VH-515 against the ZS5.
Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and ZS5 is 95 and 92 respectively.
Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Typically, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing technical specs. The picture here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and ZS5.
As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of images though you should always take the age  of the cameras into account. The fresher VH-515 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

            Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography features
26
 features face detection focusing
 focusing manually not possible
 no manual control
 external flash not possible
 low resolution (12 megapixels)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
27
 includes face detection autofocus
 focusing manually not possible
 no external flash support
 sensor resolution low (12MP)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography highlights
62
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features touch to focus
 no moving screen
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
61
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than others in class (214g)
 no moving screen
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography advice
31
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features tracking autofocus
 slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 low resolution (12 megapixels)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect AF
31
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 includes tracking autofocus
 low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
 painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
 sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
62
 features touch to focus
 has built in flash
 relatively wide (26mm)
 no Timelapse function
 low resolution (12MP)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
63
 lighter than others in class (214 grams)
 has built in flash
 relatively wide (25mm)
 long zoom (300mm)
 missing Time Lapse function
 sensor resolution low (12MP)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly display
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography features
37
 relatively wide (26mm)
 nice screen size (3 inch)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 focusing manually not possible
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 no manual control
 low resolution (12 megapixels)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
 no Timelapse function
33
 relatively wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 focusing manually not possible
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 small screen (2.7 inch)
 sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
 small sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging highlights
35
 relatively wide (26mm)
 touchscreen capability
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detection focusing
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 no external microphone support
31
 relatively wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 includes face detection autofocus
 lighter than others in class (214g)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly display
 low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
 missing external mic support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus VH-515Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VH-515 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-08-21 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD II
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 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
AF selectice    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
Live view AF    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch capability    
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual mode    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range 4.70 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
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 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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 grams (0.34 pounds) 214 grams (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $648 $300