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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1

Portability
95 Imaging
36 Features
34 Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93 Imaging
37 Features
31 Overall
34

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 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
  • Released August 2012
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax S1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is very well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was revealed 18 months after the S1 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the VH-515 scores versus the S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary 
	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax S1

		

		

			
 VH-515 S1 
ReleasedAugust 2012March 2011More modern by 18 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display  Easily navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus VH-515

		

		

			
 S1 VH-515 
Focus manually  More accurate focus
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax S1

		

		

			
 VH-515 S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Missing selfie screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 features external 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) and the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax S1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the VH-515 and the S1.
Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and S1 is 95 and 93 respectively.
Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Typically, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and S1.
As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Pentax S1 to give extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher VH-515 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.
	
			Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography advice
Pentax S1 Portrait photography advice
27
 provides face detect focusing
 focusing manually not possible
 manual mode not available
 cannot use external flash
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
35
 focusing manually
 decent sensor resolution (14MP)
 manual mode not possible
 can't use external flash
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Street photography factors
Pentax S1 Street photography factors
62
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 offers focus via touch
 screen is fixed
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
56
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 no articulating screen
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison
 Olympus VH-515 as a Sports photography camera
 Pentax S1 as a Sports photography camera
32
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 provides tracking focus
 very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 sensor resolution not great (12MP)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect AF
39
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent sensor resolution (14MP)
 features tracking focus
 very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
 Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
 Pentax S1 as a Travel photography camera
62
 offers focus via touch
 built-in flash
 reasonably wide (26mm)
 does not have Time Lapse recording
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
64
 decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 reasonably wide (28mm)
 does not have Timelapse recording
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
Pentax S1 Landscape photography factors
37
 reasonably wide (26mm)
 decent sized screen (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 focusing manually not possible
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 manual mode not available
 sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
 does not have Time Lapse recording
42
 focusing manually
 reasonably wide (28mm)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent sensor resolution (14MP)
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
 screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
 manual mode not possible
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW files
 does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
Vlogging with Pentax S1
35
 reasonably wide (26mm)
 has touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 provides face detect focusing
 high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 does not have mic jack
28
 reasonably wide (28mm)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
 does not have microphone jack
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax S1
 Olympus VH-515Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VH-515 Pentax Optio S1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2011-03-02
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3 and  16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Touch to focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Center weighted autofocus    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detection autofocus    
Contract detection autofocus    
Phase detection autofocus    
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash range 4.70 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" 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
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI92
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
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $648 $174