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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 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
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax Q10
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus VH-515 versus Pentax Q7, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is fairly similar but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and Q7 (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizing.

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The VH-515 was manufactured 11 months earlier than the Q7 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the VH-515 matches up vs the Q7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax Q7

 VH-515 Q7 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus VH-515

 Q7 VH-515 
AnnouncedAugust 2013August 2012Fresher by 11 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax Q7

 VH-515 Q7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VH-515 has outer measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax Q7 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus VH-515 versus Pentax Q7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the VH-515 and the Q7.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and Q7 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the VH-515 and Q7.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor sizing. The VH-515 features the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field harder. The older VH-515 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
Portrait photography with Pentax Q7
27
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
48
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VH-515
Street photography with Pentax Q7
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports touch focus
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (200 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Sports photography camera
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography details
Pentax Q7 Travel photography details
62
supports touch focus
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
lighter than competition in class (200g)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (250 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q7 Landscape photography features
37
quite wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging information
Pentax Q7 Vlogging information
35
quite wide (26mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no mic port
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (200g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus VH-515Pentax Q7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VH-515 Pentax Q7
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-21 2013-08-08
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152g (0.34 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $648 $480