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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
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
  • Released January 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is relatively close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was revealed 2 years after the SP-590 UZ which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P3 scores vs the SP-590 UZ for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-P3 SP-590 UZ 
ReleasedAugust 2011January 2009Newer by 32 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-P3

 SP-590 UZ E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-P3 SP-590 UZ 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 features physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-590 UZ has measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-P3 vs the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and SP-590 UZ is 86 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and SP-590 UZ.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P3 contains the bigger sensor which will make getting shallow DOF less difficult. The younger E-P3 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
36
focusing manually
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography info
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
screen does not articulate
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography info
60
boasts touch to focus
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
58
environment proof
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
missing Timelapse function
45
focusing manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging info
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-08-17 2009-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 8.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 413 gr (0.91 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $0 $249