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Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
79
Imaging
50
Features
31
Overall
42
Leica M8 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Leica M8
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 591g - 139 x 80 x 37mm
  • Revealed July 2007
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
  • Launched January 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Leica M8 and Olympus SP-590 UZ, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the M8 (10MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is pretty comparable but the M8 (APS-H) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The M8 was released 17 months before the SP-590 UZ which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Leica M8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the M8 scores vs the SP-590 UZ when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica M8 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 M8 SP-590 UZ 

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Leica M8

 SP-590 UZ M8 
LaunchedJanuary 2009July 2007Newer by 17 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Leica M8 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 M8 SP-590 UZ 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Leica M8 offers outer dimensions of 139mm x 80mm x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") with a weight of 591 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Olympus SP-590 UZ has proportions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Leica M8 and Olympus SP-590 UZ in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the M8 and the SP-590 UZ.

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M8 and SP-590 UZ is 79 and 72 respectively.

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The image underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the M8 and SP-590 UZ.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The M8 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will show greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged M8 will be behind in sensor technology.

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica M8 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography highlights
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
MP count low (10MP)
37
focusing manually
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Leica M8 Street photography highlights
Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography highlights
62
good sensor size (APS-H)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica M8
Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good sensor size (APS-H)
good battery pack (550 CIPA)
does not have liveview
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica M8 Travel photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography factors
51
good battery pack (550 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
58
weather sealing
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica M8 Landscape photography information
Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica M mount)
good sensor size (APS-H)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (550 CIPA)
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
no Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica M8 Vlogging advice
Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
24
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Leica M8 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica M8 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Leica M8Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Brand Name Leica Olympus
Model type Leica M8 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2007-07-31 2009-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-H 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 27 x 18mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 486.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Full resolution 3936 x 2630 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 2500 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens support Leica M fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 59 -
Crop factor 1.3 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.00 m
Flash options Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 591g (1.30 lbs) 413g (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 139 x 80 x 37mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 1.5") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 663 not tested
Other
Battery life 550 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $4,400 $249