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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-590 UZ, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was introduced 4 years later than the SP-590 UZ and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M1 grades against the SP-590 UZ in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-M1 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedOctober 2013January 2009More recent by 59 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-M1

 SP-590 UZ E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-M1 SP-590 UZ 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-590 UZ has sizing of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-590 UZ in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 against the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and SP-590 UZ is 71 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and SP-590 UZ.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
36
manual focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography factors
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (497g)
good ISO range (25,600)
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment sealing
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
58
environment sealing
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
45
manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lighter than competition in class (497g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
24
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-10-28 2009-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.00 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lb) 413 grams (0.91 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $799 $249