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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

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
  • Released January 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

The following is a complete review of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus TG-870, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both built by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was manufactured 8 years earlier than the TG-870 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SP-590 UZ matches up vs the TG-870 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus TG-870

 SP-590 UZ TG-870 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 TG-870 SP-590 UZ 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2009Newer by 85 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus TG-870

 SP-590 UZ TG-870 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with outer dimensions 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 TG-870 has specifications of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Olympus TG-870 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the TG-870.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and TG-870 is 72 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The image underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and TG-870.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus TG-870 to deliver more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography features
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
36
manual focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
36
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than average in class (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography features
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (300 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
58
environment proofing
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
better than average battery power (300 CIPA)
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
heavier than average in class (221g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
45
manual focus
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
50
pretty wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment sealing
better than average battery power (300 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging advice
24
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone port
32
pretty wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than average in class (221g)
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SP-590 UZOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2009-01-07 2016-01-06
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lb) 221 grams (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 - 300 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $249 $280