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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Updated by Olympus SP-600 UZ
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SP-590 UZ, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was announced 4 years after the SP-590 UZ which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PM2 grades vs the SP-590 UZ when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-PM2 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedMay 2013January 2009Newer by 54 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus E-PM2

 SP-590 UZ E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SP-590 UZ

 E-PM2 SP-590 UZ 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has got outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Olympus SP-590 UZ has measurements 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-PM2 versus Olympus SP-590 UZ in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 vs the SP-590 UZ.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and SP-590 UZ is 89 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and SP-590 UZ.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will offer you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger E-PM2 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
36
you can focus manually
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
low fps (6.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography info
66
supports focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
58
environment proof
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
45
you can focus manually
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no mic support
24
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SP-590 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SP-590 UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SP-590 UZ
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SP-590 UZ
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-05-21 2009-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269g (0.59 lbs) 413g (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images -
Type of battery 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 xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $448 $249