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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 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 MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very close but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizes.

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The VH-515 was introduced 10 months earlier than the MX-1 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VH-515 grades against the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax MX-1

 VH-515 MX-1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus VH-515

 MX-1 VH-515 
ReleasedJuly 2013August 2012More recent by 10 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax MX-1

 VH-515 MX-1 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 enjoys outside measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the VH-515 and the MX-1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and MX-1 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and MX-1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor measurements. The VH-515 contains the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher. The older VH-515 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
27
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
42
manual focus
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has touch to focus
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery power (290 CIPA)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
62
has touch to focus
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
great battery power (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging features
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging features
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
33
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
heavier than others (391g)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus VH-515Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VH-515 Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $648 $400