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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V 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
  • Released August 2012
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX9V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and HX9V (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was introduced 14 months later than the HX9V making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the VH-515 grades vs the HX9V for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony HX9V

 VH-515 HX9V 
LaunchedAugust 2012July 2011Fresher by 14 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus VH-515

 HX9V VH-515 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX9V

 VH-515 HX9V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VH-515 enjoys outer 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 HX9V has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX9V in the all new Camera and 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 select at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the VH-515 versus the HX9V.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and HX9V is 95 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and HX9V.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX9V to provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The newer VH-515 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX9V Portrait photography factors
27
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
39
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography advice
Sony HX9V Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports focus via touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (245 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography factors
Sony HX9V Sports photography factors
32
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
44
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography info
Sony HX9V Travel photography info
62
supports focus via touch
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competitors (245 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX9V Landscape photography factors
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
49
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX9V as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
33
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (245g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony HX9V
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.70 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152 gr (0.34 lb) 245 gr (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 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 1 1
Launch price $648 $328