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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both produced by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was introduced 5 years earlier than the SZ-15 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SP-590 UZ grades against the SZ-15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus SZ-15

 SP-590 UZ SZ-15 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SZ-15 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedJune 2013January 2009Newer by 54 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus SZ-15

 SP-590 UZ SZ-15 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ offers external 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) whilst the Olympus SZ-15 has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the SZ-15.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and SZ-15 is 72 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and SZ-15.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-15 to provide greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography info
36
focusing manually
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
58
environment proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition (250 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography details
45
focusing manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging details
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic socket
34
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (250g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus SP-590 UZOlympus SZ-15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Olympus SZ-15
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-07 2013-06-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 gr (0.91 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $249 $200