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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was launched 6 years before the ZS40 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the ZS40 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Panasonic ZS40

 SP-590 UZ ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 ZS40 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedJanuary 2014January 2009Fresher by 60 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic ZS40

 SP-590 UZ ZS40 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has got outer measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the ZS40.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and ZS40 is 72 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and ZS40.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS40 to show more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography information
36
focusing manually
saves RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
52
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography features
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
58
weather proof
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
MP count good (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
56
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
exports RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
24
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic port
34
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus SP-590 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-07 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lb) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 - 300 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $249 $450