Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic GX85

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GX85, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and GX85 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and GX85 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was introduced 8 years earlier than the GX85 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SP-590 UZ matches up vs the GX85 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Panasonic GX85 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ enjoys external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic GX85 has specifications of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic GX85 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the GX85.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and GX85 is 72 and 83 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and GX85.

Clearly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Panasonic GX85 will give you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.