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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was launched 4 years prior to the GF5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise view of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the GF5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic GF5

 SP-590 UZ GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 GF5 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedApril 2012January 2009Fresher by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF5

 SP-590 UZ GF5 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has exterior dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic GF5 has measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the GF5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and GF5 is 72 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing just by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and GF5.

As you can see, both of the cameras have the same megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ comes with the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The older SP-590 UZ will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
37
focusing manually
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography features
Panasonic GF5 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography information
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography information
38
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
41
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography advice
58
environment proofing
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
includes focus by touch
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
46
focusing manually
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
59
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
24
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic support
32
has touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-01-07 2012-04-05
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 dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 64 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.9 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest 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, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 gr (0.91 lb) 267 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 360 photographs
Battery type - 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
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $249 $600