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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
64
Features
70
Overall
66

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Launched August 2012
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-S2
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The VH-515 was revealed 24 months earlier than the K-S1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VH-515 scores vs the K-S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax K-S1

 VH-515 K-S1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus VH-515

 K-S1 VH-515 
IntroducedAugust 2014August 2012More modern by 24 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-S1

 VH-515 K-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 has outside dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has proportions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the VH-515 against the K-S1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and K-S1 is 95 and 69 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing specs. The image below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and K-S1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VH-515 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-S1 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged VH-515 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
27
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
78
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Street photography advice
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch to focus
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (558 grams)
great ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography factors
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (5.4 frames per second)
bad battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography details
62
provides touch to focus
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
lighter than competition (558g)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography factors
37
decently wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (410 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging highlights
35
decently wide (26mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (558g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus VH-515Pentax K-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VH-515 Pentax K-S1
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-08-21 2014-08-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Prime MII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.70 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152g (0.34 lbs) 558g (1.23 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1061
Other
Battery life - 410 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $648 $339