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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Released August 2012
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The VH-515 was unveiled 9 months earlier than the K-5 IIs so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the VH-515 matches up versus the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 VH-515 K-5 IIs 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus VH-515

 K-5 IIs VH-515 
AnnouncedJune 2013August 2012More recent by 9 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 VH-515 K-5 IIs 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus VH-515 enjoys external measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the VH-515 and the K-5 IIs.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and K-5 IIs is 95 and 60 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing technical specs. The photograph below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VH-515 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 IIs will result in greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The older VH-515 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
27
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography highlights
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with focus via touch
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography features
62
comes with focus via touch
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
environment proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography highlights
37
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse function
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging details
35
quite wide (26mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus VH-515Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VH-515 Pentax K-5 IIs
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-08-21 2013-06-04
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Prime II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152g (0.34 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $648 $749