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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 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
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A99
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony A900, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and A900 (25MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) use different sensor sizing.

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The VH-515 was released 3 years later than the A900 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the VH-515 scores versus the A900 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony A900

 VH-515 A900 
LaunchedAugust 2012October 2008More recent by 47 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Olympus VH-515

 A900 VH-515 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony A900

 VH-515 A900 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 features outside dimensions 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 Sony A900 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony A900 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the VH-515 compared to the A900.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and A900 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and A900.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The VH-515 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A900 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent VH-515 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography advice
Sony A900 Portrait photography advice
27
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
71
focusing manually
excellent resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography information
Sony A900 Street photography information
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
Sony A900 Sports photography advice
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps low (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A900 as a Travel photography camera
62
has focus via touch
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
weather proof
excellent resolution (25 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography features
Sony A900 Landscape photography features
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A900 as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
9
can't record video
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony A900
 Olympus VH-515Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-08-21 2008-10-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 secs
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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) 895 gr (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life - 880 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $648 $2,736