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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • New Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-G80
  • New Model is Panasonic G95
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic G85, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and G85 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and G85 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizes.

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The SP-590 UZ was released 8 years prior to the G85 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SP-590 UZ scores versus the G85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic G85

 SP-590 UZ G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 G85 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016January 2009More recent by 93 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic G85

 SP-590 UZ G85 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with exterior measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic G85 has measurements of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic G85 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the G85.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and G85 is 72 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and G85.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic G85 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography features
Panasonic G85 Portrait photography features
36
manual focus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography details
Panasonic G85 Street photography details
59
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
77
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography information
Panasonic G85 Sports photography information
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
64
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography features
Panasonic G85 Travel photography features
58
environment proof
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
environment sealing
provides focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G85 Landscape photography advice
45
manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G85 as a Vlogging camera
24
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic jack
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic G85
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-G80
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-01-07 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 49
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
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./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lbs) 505 grams (1.11 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 71
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 656
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $249 $900