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Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Ricoh CX2 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
35
Overall
33

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 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
Ricoh CX2
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Ricoh. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and CX2 (9MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was launched 3 years after the CX2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the VH-515 scores vs the CX2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Ricoh CX2

 VH-515 CX2 
AnnouncedAugust 2012August 2009Newer by 37 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX2 over the Olympus VH-515

 CX2 VH-515 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Ricoh CX2

 VH-515 CX2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VH-515 provides outer dimensions 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 Ricoh CX2 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the VH-515 against the CX2.

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and CX2 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specs. The image here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and CX2.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Olympus VH-515 to result in extra detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger VH-515 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
Portrait photography with Ricoh CX2
27
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
25
has manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VH-515
Street photography with Ricoh CX2
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (185 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Ricoh CX2
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh CX2 as a Travel photography camera
62
boasts touch focus
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
66
lighter than average in class (185 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
long zoom (300mm)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
Ricoh CX2 Landscape photography factors
37
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
Vlogging with Ricoh CX2
35
pretty wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
30
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (185g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Ricoh CX2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Ricoh CX2
 Olympus VH-515Ricoh CX2
General Information
Company Olympus Ricoh
Model Olympus VH-515 Ricoh CX2
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2009-08-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
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 9 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 3.00 m (ISO 400)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152g (0.34 pounds) 185g (0.41 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" 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 model LI-50B DB-70
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $648 $341