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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Announced August 2012
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus VH-515 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The VH-515 was brought out 2 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the VH-515 grades vs the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony NEX-5

 VH-515 NEX-5 
IntroducedAugust 2012June 2010More recent by 27 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus VH-515

 NEX-5 VH-515 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony NEX-5

 VH-515 NEX-5 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 offers outer 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) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VH-515 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the VH-515 versus the NEX-5.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and NEX-5 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and NEX-5.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The VH-515 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony NEX-5 will offer extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent VH-515 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
27
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5 Street photography info
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography info
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
52
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
62
boasts touch to focus
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging advice
35
fairly wide (26mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus VH-515Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VH-515 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-08-21 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $648 $599