Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5
95 Imaging
36 Features
34 Overall
35


89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VH-515 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus VH-515 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony NEX-5
VH-515 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2012 | ![]() | June 2010 | More 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 type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Crisper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony NEX-5
VH-515 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Olympus VH-515 | Sony 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 |