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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 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 RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the VH-515 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The VH-515 was brought out 6 months earlier than the RX1 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the VH-515 matches up against the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony RX1

 VH-515 RX1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus VH-515

 RX1 VH-515 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony RX1

 VH-515 RX1 
AnnouncedAugust 2012February 2013Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 features outer 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 RX1 has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the VH-515 versus the RX1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and RX1 is 95 and 79 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The picture here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and RX1.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VH-515 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX1 will show more detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
27
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
82
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography info
Sony RX1 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Sony RX1
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
53
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
62
offers focus by touch
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse function
low battery (270 per charge)
more heavy than average in class (482g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography information
Sony RX1 Landscape photography information
37
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (270 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (482g)
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony RX1
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 35mm (1x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/4000s
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 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152g (0.34 lbs) 482g (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $648 $2,798