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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 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
  • Released January 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof and both are designed by Olympus. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was introduced 7 years prior to the TG-4 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the TG-4 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Olympus TG-4

 SP-590 UZ TG-4 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 TG-4 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2009More recent by 76 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus TG-4

 SP-590 UZ TG-4 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has outside 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) whilst the Olympus TG-4 has specifications of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the TG-4.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and TG-4 is 72 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and TG-4.

As you can see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-4 to render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-4
36
you can focus manually
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
47
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography details
Olympus TG-4 Street photography details
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography information
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography information
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography info
Olympus TG-4 Travel photography info
58
environment proofing
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition in class (247g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
45
you can focus manually
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
62
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging details
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging details
24
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone port
34
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (247 grams)
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus SP-590 UZOlympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Olympus Tough TG-4
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2009-01-07 2015-04-13
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 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
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 413g (0.91 lbs) 247g (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
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 - 380 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $249 $379