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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic GF3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is very comparable but the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was manufactured 3 years before the GF3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades against the GF3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic GF3

 SP-590 UZ GF3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 GF3 SP-590 UZ 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2009More recent by 31 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF3

 SP-590 UZ GF3 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ offers 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) and the Panasonic GF3 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic GF3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the GF3.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and GF3 is 72 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and GF3.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ provides the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The older SP-590 UZ will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography info
37
focusing manually
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography information
Panasonic GF3 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography factors
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Panasonic GF3
58
environment proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
58
boasts focus by touch
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography information
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
46
focusing manually
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging information
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging information
24
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone support
32
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2011-08-11
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine 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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 gr (0.91 pounds) 264 gr (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $249 $360