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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 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 QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was introduced 24 months earlier than the QX30 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VH-515 grades versus the QX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony QX30

 VH-515 QX30 
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus VH-515

 QX30 VH-515 
LaunchedSeptember 2014August 2012More modern by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX30

 VH-515 QX30 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VH-515 provides outside dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the VH-515 against the QX30.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and QX30 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The image here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and QX30.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony QX30 to offer extra detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged VH-515 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
27
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
38
good MP (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography features
Sony QX30 Street photography features
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with focus via touch
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography details
Sony QX30 Sports photography details
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography info
Sony QX30 Travel photography info
62
comes with focus via touch
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
offers touch to focus
good MP (20MP)
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography advice
Sony QX30 Landscape photography advice
37
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
39
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (")
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
35
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
35
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony QX30
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
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 BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch -
Display resolution 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 4 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
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in None
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 grams (0.34 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 life - 200 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN,
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 Single Single
Retail pricing $648 $348