Canon SX170 IS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Following is a extensive overview of the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SP-590 UZ, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and SP-590 UZ (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX170 IS was introduced 4 years after the SP-590 UZ which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX170 IS being a Compact camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX170 IS matches up vs the SP-590 UZ with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX170 IS and Olympus SP-590 UZ. The whole galleries are provided at Canon SX170 IS Gallery and Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX170 IS offers outside measurements of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-590 UZ has measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX170 IS and Olympus SP-590 UZ in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SX170 IS versus the SP-590 UZ.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and SP-590 UZ is 88 and 72 respectively.

Quite often, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX170 IS and SP-590 UZ.

Clearly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX170 IS to give you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger SX170 IS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.