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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Introduced August 2012
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Announced April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The VH-515 was announced 3 years later than the HX1 and that is a fairly large gap 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 HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the VH-515 grades against the HX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony HX1

 VH-515 HX1 
AnnouncedAugust 2012April 2009More recent by 41 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus VH-515

 HX1 VH-515 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX1

 VH-515 HX1 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VH-515 provides exterior 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 HX1 has dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the VH-515 compared to the HX1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and HX1 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and HX1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The VH-515 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus VH-515 will show extra detail with its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher VH-515 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
27
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
you can focus manually
no external flash support
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus by touch
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competitors (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Sony HX1
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
36
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
62
provides focus by touch
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
48
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (544 grams)
MP count low (9MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VH-515
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
37
relatively wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
39
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
35
relatively wide (26mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
22
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1440 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (544 grams)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX1
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2009-04-22
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.70 m 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $648 $47,999