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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
64
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Canon SX40 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 600g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Superseded the Canon SX30 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX50 HS
Olympus SP-590 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 413g - 116 x 84 x 81mm
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SP-590 UZ, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SX40 HS (12MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX40 HS was manufactured 2 years later than the SP-590 UZ and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SX40 HS scores versus the SP-590 UZ when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX40 HS over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SX40 HS SP-590 UZ 
RevealedSeptember 2011January 2009More recent by 33 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Canon SX40 HS

 SP-590 UZ SX40 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SX40 HS SP-590 UZ 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX40 HS provides external dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-590 UZ has specifications of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SP-590 UZ in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the SX40 HS against the SP-590 UZ.

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and SP-590 UZ is 64 and 72 respectively.

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX40 HS and SP-590 UZ.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of files however you would want to consider the age of the cameras into account. The more recent SX40 HS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX40 HS
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
41
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
provides face detection focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
36
manual focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Street photography camera
49
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors (600 grams)
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
42
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Travel photography highlights
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography highlights
54
great battery pack (380 per charge)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (840mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (600 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
58
weather proof
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX40 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
38
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
45
manual focus
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX40 HS Vlogging features
Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging features
57
quite wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
no external mic support
heavier than competitors (600g)
24
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Canon SX40 HS vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX40 HS and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HSOlympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Olympus SP-590 UZ
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-09-15 2009-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
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 24-840mm (35.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology PureColor II VA TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 8.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 413 gr (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
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 life 380 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-10L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $330 $249