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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic LX5
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX10
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic LX7, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the LX7 (10MP) is relatively similar but the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and LX7 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was released 4 years before the LX7 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the LX7 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic LX7

 SP-590 UZ LX7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 LX7 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedOctober 2012January 2009More modern by 45 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic LX7

 SP-590 UZ LX7 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ enjoys outside measurements 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 LX7 has dimensions of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic LX7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the LX7.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and LX7 is 72 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The pic below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and LX7.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SP-590 UZ because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LX7 Portrait photography advice
36
you can focus manually
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
45
manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography factors
Panasonic LX7 Street photography factors
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LX7 Sports photography highlights
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery (330 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography information
Panasonic LX7 Travel photography information
58
environment proof
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
good battery (330 shots)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
more heavy than competitors (298g)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography info
Panasonic LX7 Landscape photography info
45
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
57
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
good battery (330 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging information
Panasonic LX7 Vlogging information
24
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (298 grams)
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic LX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic LX7
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-01-07 2012-10-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/1.4-2.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 8.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 298g (0.66 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.7
DXO Low light score not tested 147
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Style of battery - 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, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $249 $400