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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 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
  • Launched August 2012
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus VH-515 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was launched 3 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VH-515 matches up against the S980 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Sony S980

 VH-515 S980 
LaunchedAugust 2012February 2009Fresher by 43 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus VH-515

 S980 VH-515 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Sony S980

 VH-515 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VH-515 enjoys outside 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 S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VH-515 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the VH-515 compared to the S980.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and S980 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and S980.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of files though you should really consider the production date of the cameras into account. The younger VH-515 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
27
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography features
Sony S980 Street photography features
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features touch to focus
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
17
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
62
features touch to focus
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
37
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
27
you can focus manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
35
quite wide (26mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
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Olympus VH-515 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Sony S980
 Olympus VH-515Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VH-515 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 152 grams (0.34 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $648 $300