Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-860

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-860, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both created by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and TG-860 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was released 7 years prior to the TG-860 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the TG-860 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Olympus TG-860 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides external measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Olympus TG-860 has proportions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-860 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the TG-860.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and TG-860 is 72 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and TG-860.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus TG-860 to provide extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind in sensor technology.