Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ1

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 4 years before the SZ1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades vs the SZ1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ enjoys exterior measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic SZ1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SP-590 UZ versus the SZ1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and SZ1 is 72 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and SZ1.

Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ1 to give extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.