Nikon Coolpix S9500 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ: A Thorough Small Sensor Superzoom Showdown

Choosing your ideal compact superzoom camera means balancing zoom reach, sensor performance, ergonomics, and feature sets to fit your photography style. With two notable contenders - the 2013 Nikon Coolpix S9500 and the 2009 Olympus SP-590 UZ - both offering long zoom ranges on modest 1/2.3" sensors, we dive deep to help you figure out which model better suits your creative ambitions. Drawing on years of testing hundreds of cameras, here’s our detailed comparison to steer your decision.

First Impressions: Design and Ergonomics That Affect Every Shoot

A camera’s physical presence hugely impacts your shooting enjoyment. Whether you prefer palm-friendly portability or DSLR-style handling, size and layout matter.

How Size Influences Usage

• Nikon S9500: Featherlight and pocketable, ideal for travel or street photography where discretion and convenience reign.
• Olympus SP-590 UZ: Bulky with a pronounced grip; benefits enthusiasts used to DSLR handling, lending stability during long telephoto shots but less pocket-friendly.

Control Layout Scrutiny

Comparing the top views reveals each design philosophy:

• Nikon’s controls are minimalistic, prioritizing simplicity at the expense of direct access to manual settings.
• Olympus offers dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority modes, making it more appealing for photographers wanting greater exposure control on the fly.

Takeaway: If you crave compactness and ease, Nikon feels right. If manual exposure adjustments are pivotal, Olympus edges ahead ergonomically.

Sensor and Image Quality: Measuring Capability and Potential

Both cameras sport a common small sensor size (1/2.3"), but specifications and technology differ enough to influence image output notably.

Evaluating Sensor Technologies

• BSI-CMOS (Nikon): Back-illuminated CMOS sensors generally excel in gathering light efficiently, improving noise performance at higher ISOs - beneficial for dim environments and night shots.
• CCD (Olympus): Known for strong color rendition and sharpness, yet typically less efficient in low light with higher noise beyond ISO 800-1600.

Image Quality Realities

• Nikon’s higher megapixel count allows larger prints and cropping flexibility but has noise challenges above ISO 800.
• Olympus’s ability to shoot RAW files offers image editing flexibility; a significant advantage if you plan to post-process extensively.
• On test shots, Nikon delivered sharper detail with better highlight retention, while Olympus images occasionally appeared softer but rich in color saturation.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing and Reviewing Shots

Seeing your shot well while shooting and reviewing matters deeply, especially in bright sunlight or varied conditions.

What This Means Practically

• Nikon’s OLED screen offers vibrant color and better visibility outdoors, more reliable for framing and menu navigation.
• Olympus provides an electronic viewfinder (EVF), critical for shooting under bright sun or when discreet framing is required. However, the EVF’s resolution is modest, causing some pixelation visible during precise composition.
• Neither feature touchscreens, which requires navigation through buttons, potentially less intuitive for some users.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Action When It Counts

Fast, accurate autofocus and shooting speed can be the difference between capturing or missing fleeting moments.

Real-World Autofocus Insights

• Nikon’s faster burst rate benefits sports and wildlife shooters wanting more frames per second.
• Olympus’s manual focus option is welcome for macro and creative-focused users, granting precision the Nikon lacks.
• Both struggle in tracking fast-moving subjects due to limited AF sophistication - common in compact superzooms, but a notable limitation for serious sports or wildlife photography.

Lens Performance and Zoom Versatility

Lens quality and zoom reach determine framing versatility, from grand landscapes to distant subjects.

• Olympus gives a slightly longer reach and a brighter aperture at wide-angle (f/2.8), great for low-light landscape or indoor shots.
• Nikon covers a bit wider angle at the short end, helpful for broader landscapes or interiors.
• Olympus’s 1 cm macro focus capability provides serious close-up potential for flower, insect, or product photography enthusiasts.
• Both rely on optical image stabilization to combat camera shake essential when using extreme telephoto focal lengths handheld.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Convenience

Practical shooting day considerations like how long you can shoot and what media cards work often influence real use.

• Nikon’s EN-EL12 battery rated for ~230 shots is standard but modest - expect a few hours of moderate shooting before a recharge.
• Olympus accepts multiple storage mediums but also offers internal storage, a bonus if you forget a card.
• xD cards are obsolete and more expensive; Nikon’s SD card compatibility is more practical and cost-effective.
• Neither camera supports USB charging, so carrying spare batteries or a charger is necessary.

Connectivity and Ports: Sharing and Workflow

Modern photographers value easy image transfer and external control interfaces.

• Nikon’s integrated Wi-Fi and GPS give immediate social sharing and geo-tagging capabilities.
• Olympus offers HDMI output, useful for viewing images and videos on larger displays.
• Neither supports external microphones, limiting video quality potential.

Video Recording Capabilities: Basics Covered, But Limited

For casual video or vlogging, understanding frame rates and resolutions is key.

• Nikon offers full HD video, appropriate for decent quality casual videos and travel vlogs.
• Olympus’s max video resolution is vastly inferior, making it less desirable for videographers.
• Lack of microphone input on both models limits audio enhancement.

Sample Image Gallery: Real-World Output Comparison

To appreciate image differences firsthand, we captured a variety of scenes:

Nikon S9500 front Nikon S9500 screen back Olympus SP 590 UZ front Olympus SP 590 UZ screen back

• Nikon S9500 images revealed crisper fine detail and better dynamic range in landscape shots.
• Olympus SP-590 UZ photos excelled in color richness but showed softness at longer zooms.
• Both cameras reveal noise struggles above ISO 800, advising keeping ISO low when possible.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

How do these cameras perform in diverse photographic contexts?

For more detailed scores and breakdowns by photography style:

Durability, Reliability, and Build Quality

• Nikon S9500 lacks weather sealing or dust resistance, but its solid compact construction suits light trail use.
• Olympus SP-590 UZ offers environmental sealing, protecting you a bit more when shooting outdoors in mist or light rain.

This difference matters if your photography involves unpredictable environments.

Pricing and Value: What You Get for Your Money

At time-of-review pricing:

Both models occupy the budget superzoom niche, but:

• Nikon’s newer sensor, wireless networking, GPS, and sharper images offer impressive value.
• Olympus’s manual control, RAW shooting, and longer zoom might justify the slight price bump for enthusiasts prioritizing flexibility.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Final Recommendations: Which Should You Choose?

• For travel enthusiasts and casual users: Nikon Coolpix S9500 is more suitable with its compact form, better image quality, and modern connectivity features. The ease of use and lighter package help you carry it everywhere enthusiastically.

• For advanced amateurs preferring manual control and versatility: Olympus SP-590 UZ’s RAW support, manual modes, and longer zoom reach offer creative flexibility. Its environmental sealing adds robustness for outdoor shooting.

• For macro and close-up fanatics: Olympus’s minimum focus distance of 1cm with manual focus is a standout feature not matched by Nikon.

• For videography beginners: Nikon’s full HD video capability is preferable over Olympus's limited VGA.

Wrapping Up: The Creators’ Perspective

Choosing between the Nikon S9500 and Olympus SP-590 UZ boils down to your priorities: portability and connectivity versus control and zoom power. Both deliver respectable image quality for their class, but their feature philosophies diverge.

We encourage you to check these cameras in-person if possible, exploring their handling and menus to feel which suits your style. Pair them with the right accessories - extra batteries, appropriate storage cards, and perhaps cases designed for superzooms - to get the most from these versatile tools.

Whichever path you choose, both cameras can be great stepping stones on your photographic journey, enabling you to capture memories with remarkable reach and convenience.

Happy shooting!