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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Revealed August 2012
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and HX7V (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was launched 14 months after the HX7V which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the VH-515 grades against the HX7V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony HX7V

 VH-515 HX7V 
ReleasedAugust 2012July 2011Newer by 14 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus VH-515

 HX7V VH-515 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX7V

 VH-515 HX7V 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 provides external dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony HX7V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the VH-515 against the HX7V.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and HX7V is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The pic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VH-515 and HX7V.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony HX7V to provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent VH-515 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
Portrait photography with Sony HX7V
27
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
30
good MP (16MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography factors
Sony HX7V Street photography factors
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography factors
Sony HX7V Sports photography factors
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Sony HX7V
62
has touch to focus
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography details
Sony HX7V Landscape photography details
37
pretty wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
42
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VH-515
Vlogging with Sony HX7V
35
pretty wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152g (0.34 lbs) 208g (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $648 $499