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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Olympus SP-590 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was revealed 10 months before the SP-590 UZ so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-3 scores against the SP-590 UZ in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-3 SP-590 UZ 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-3

 SP-590 UZ E-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2009February 2008More modern by 10 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-3 SP-590 UZ 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 offers outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 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).

Look at the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-3 against the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and SP-590 UZ is 56 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and SP-590 UZ.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will offer you more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
36
focusing manually
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
69
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography features
55
weather proof
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
58
environment sealing
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography advice
56
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
45
focusing manually
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
18
no video
24
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus E-3Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-02-20 2009-01-07
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 8.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
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)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 413 gr (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $670 $249