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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Introduced August 2012
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX30V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was manufactured 6 months later than the HX30V so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VH-515 matches up vs the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony HX30V

 VH-515 HX30V 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus VH-515

 HX30V VH-515 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX30V

 VH-515 HX30V 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2012Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 has exterior measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX30V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the VH-515 against the HX30V.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and HX30V.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX30V to provide you with more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX30V Portrait photography factors
27
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
includes face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography information
Sony HX30V Street photography information
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus via touch
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX30V Travel photography highlights
62
features focus via touch
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography info
Sony HX30V Landscape photography info
37
decently wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
50
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging factors
Sony HX30V Vlogging factors
35
decently wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic port
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 gr (0.34 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $648 $420