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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • New Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus SZ-16 iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was manufactured 5 years prior to the SZ-16 iHS and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the SZ-16 iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 SP-590 UZ SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SZ-16 iHS SP-590 UZ 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2009More recent by 48 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 SP-590 UZ SZ-16 iHS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ enjoys outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus SZ-16 iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ versus the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and SZ-16 iHS is 72 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and SZ-16 iHS.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to offer extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography features
36
focusing manually
saves RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
35
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography details
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
58
weather proof
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery life (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography details
45
focusing manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
41
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery life (220 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus SP-590 UZOlympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-01-07 2013-01-08
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 alias filter
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Physical 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 Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $249 $230