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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 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
  • Launched January 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced January 2015
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic SZ10, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and SZ10 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 7 years before the SZ10 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SP-590 UZ grades against the SZ10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic SZ10

 SP-590 UZ SZ10 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 SZ10 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015January 2009More modern by 73 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic SZ10

 SP-590 UZ SZ10 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has got external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has sizing of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic SZ10 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the SZ10.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and SZ10 is 72 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The pic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and SZ10.

To sum up, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic SZ10 to offer you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Portrait photography camera
36
you can focus manually
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography features
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography features
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
70
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (177g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Sports photography camera
38
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
low fps (1.4 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography factors
58
weather proof
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than average in class (177 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography info
45
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
41
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery (200 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ10
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (177g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-07 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 1.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lbs) 177 grams (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $249 $200