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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 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 QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Released September 2014
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The VH-515 was announced 24 months prior to the QX1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the VH-515 matches up against the QX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony QX1

 VH-515 QX1 
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution460k0kClearer display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus VH-515

 QX1 VH-515 
ReleasedSeptember 2014August 2012Fresher by 24 months
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX1

 VH-515 QX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus VH-515 comes with outside dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony QX1 has sizing of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") along with a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the VH-515 vs the QX1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and QX1 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The graphic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and QX1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VH-515 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony QX1 will produce more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older VH-515 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography features
Sony QX1 Portrait photography features
27
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
66
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
no manual control
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
Sony QX1 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with focus via touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography details
Sony QX1 Sports photography details
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
56
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery pack (440 CIPA)
max fps low (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Travel photography camera
62
comes with focus via touch
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery pack (440 shots)
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (216 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX1 Landscape photography highlights
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
64
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (440 per charge)
screen is small ( inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging information
Sony QX1 Vlogging information
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
32
touch screen
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition (216 grams)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX1
 Olympus VH-515Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Alpha QX1
Class Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Launched 2012-08-21 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches -
Resolution of display 460k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.70 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 216 gr (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
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 life - 440 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $648 $500