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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR 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
  • Launched January 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus SZ-30MR, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are produced by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was brought out 3 years before the SZ-30MR and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the SZ-30MR in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 SP-590 UZ SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SZ-30MR SP-590 UZ 
RevealedMarch 2011January 2009More recent by 26 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-30MR

 SP-590 UZ SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has physical measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the SZ-30MR.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and SZ-30MR is 72 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at technical specs. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and SZ-30MR.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-30MR to give greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
36
focusing manually
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
34
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography details
58
environment proofing
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (220 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
45
focusing manually
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
24
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no external mic support
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus SP-590 UZOlympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-07 2011-03-02
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 life - 220 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $249 $279