Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LS5

Lets look closer at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic LS5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the LS5 (14MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 3 years prior to the LS5 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic LS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the SP-590 UZ scores against the LS5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Panasonic LS5 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ features outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LS5 has measurements of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic LS5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the LS5.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and LS5 is 72 and 94 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and LS5.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic LS5 to render more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind with regard to sensor technology.