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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Updated by Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus SP-590 UZ, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the SP-590 UZ (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 2 years later than the SP-590 UZ and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the SP-590 UZ in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-PL2 SP-590 UZ 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2009More recent by 26 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-PL2

 SP-590 UZ E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-PL2 SP-590 UZ 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Olympus SP-590 UZ has sizing of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus SP-590 UZ in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 vs the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and SP-590 UZ is 85 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The visual here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and SP-590 UZ.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 features the larger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field easier. The younger E-PL2 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
36
manual focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography advice
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
59
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
58
weather sealing
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
45
manual focus
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
24
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2009-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
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 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 8.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 413 grams (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $249