Clicky

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 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
  • Updated by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Introduced August 2020
  • Refreshed by Panasonic S5 II
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and S5 (24MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and S5 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor size.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The SP-590 UZ was revealed 12 years earlier than the S5 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the S5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic S5

 SP-590 UZ S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 S5 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedAugust 2020January 2009More recent by 141 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.0"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1840k230kClearer display (+1610k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic S5

 SP-590 UZ S5 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has external measurements 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 Panasonic S5 has sizing of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the S5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and S5 is 72 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The visual here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and S5.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic S5 will offer extra detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S5 as a Portrait photography camera
37
manual focus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
86
has manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography advice
Panasonic S5 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
78
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Sports photography with Panasonic S5
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
lack of phase detect AF
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography factors
Panasonic S5 Travel photography factors
58
weather sealing
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
79
weather proof
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent MP (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Landscape photography with Panasonic S5
46
manual focus
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
86
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is decent (3.0 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Panasonic S5
24
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
79
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic S5
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-07 2020-08-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 225
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Leica L
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 31
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3.0"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,840 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 secs
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 pounds) 714g (1.57 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 440 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch pricing $249 $1,999