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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 front
Portability
87
Imaging
53
Features
64
Overall
57

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • New Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic GF6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 323g - 111 x 65 x 38mm
  • Released April 2013
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF5
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF7
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic GF6, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and GF6 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and GF6 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The SP-590 UZ was introduced 5 years before the GF6 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GF6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the GF6 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic GF6

 SP-590 UZ GF6 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF6 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 GF6 SP-590 UZ 
ReleasedApril 2013January 2009Newer by 51 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF6

 SP-590 UZ GF6 
Manual focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with exterior measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic GF6 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 323 grams (0.71 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic GF6 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the GF6.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and GF6 is 72 and 87 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and GF6.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SP-590 UZ with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic GF6 will show extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF6 Portrait photography info
37
focusing manually
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
65
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Street photography with Panasonic GF6
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
77
tilting screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography advice
Panasonic GF6 Sports photography advice
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography features
Panasonic GF6 Travel photography features
58
environment proofing
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF6 Landscape photography features
46
focusing manually
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Panasonic GF6
24
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone support
32
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GF6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GF6
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2013-04-08
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 1280 x 720p (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 640 x 480 (30/25fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lb) 323 grams (0.71 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 111 x 65 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 622
Other
Battery life - 340 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $249 $326