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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 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
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic G3
  • Successor is Panasonic G6
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic G5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and G5 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and G5 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was released 4 years prior to the G5 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SP-590 UZ scores versus the G5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic G5

 SP-590 UZ G5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 G5 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2009Fresher by 42 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic G5

 SP-590 UZ G5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides exterior dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G5 has dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic G5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the G5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and G5 is 72 and 74 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and G5.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic G5 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
36
manual focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Street photography with Panasonic G5
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
66
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography info
Panasonic G5 Sports photography info
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
51
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography details
Panasonic G5 Travel photography details
58
weather sealing
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
supports touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography details
Panasonic G5 Landscape photography details
45
manual focus
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging information
Panasonic G5 Vlogging information
24
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
62
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
features face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone port
more heavy than average in class (396g)
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic G5
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-01-07 2012-07-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 gr (0.91 pounds) 396 gr (0.87 pounds)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 618
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $249 $699