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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
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
  • Released January 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was announced 6 months earlier than the SP-590 UZ so they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-420 scores vs the SP-590 UZ when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-420 SP-590 UZ 

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-420

 SP-590 UZ E-420 

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-420 SP-590 UZ 
ReleasedJune 2008January 2009Same age
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus SP-590 UZ has proportions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-420 vs 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 change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-420 compared to the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and SP-590 UZ is 77 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specifications. The pic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and SP-590 UZ.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will show extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography details
Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography details
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
36
manual focus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Street photography camera
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (426g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography information
Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography information
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 per charge)
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography factors
52
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery life (500 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
58
weather sealing
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
low battery life (500 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
45
manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
24
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus E-420Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-06-23 2009-01-07
Physical type Compact 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 413g (0.91 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $999 $249