Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45: The Ultimate Small Sensor Superzoom Showdown

In the world of compact superzoom cameras, choosing the right model can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast seeking versatility or a professional looking for a reliable travel companion, understanding how a camera performs in real-world scenarios is crucial. Today, we'll take an expert deep dive into two noteworthy contenders from different generations: the Olympus SP-590 UZ from 2009 and the newer Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 announced in 2015.

Drawing on our extensive hands-on testing experience, we will dissect these compact superzoom cameras across all angles - image quality, handling, autofocus, video, and more. You'll find clear comparisons, unique insights, and practical recommendations to help you decide which fits your creative needs best.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics & Design

Picking up each camera, you immediately notice a divergence in physical design philosophy shaped by their eras and intended users.

The SP-590 UZ is chunkier and built like a mini DSLR. The bulk conveys a more serious photographic intent and a firmer grip for extended shooting. If you seek a traditional "bridge" style camera, this feels right at home in the hand.

Meanwhile, the ZS45's slimmer profile and considerably lower weight make it much easier to carry everywhere. For street photographers or travelers looking for a pocketable tool, this Panasonic is more versatile.

On top, the Olympus offers traditional physical controls, exposing you to more manual settings directly. The Panasonic takes a simpler route with fewer dials and buttons - better for newcomers or quick shooting moments.

The Olympus’s design prioritizes tactile feedback and more granular control, which benefits photographers who prefer adjusting settings instinctively. The Panasonic’s minimalism aids in fast, intuitive shooting without fumbling.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: Digging Deeper Into the Heart of the Cameras

Both cameras employ the ubiquitous 1/2.3-inch sensor size, a standard for superzooms aiming to balance compactness and reach. However, there's a crucial sensor technology and resolution difference.

The SP-590 UZ utilizes a CCD sensor which traditionally handles colors and dynamic range well but suffers comparatively at higher ISO speeds and continuous shooting speed. It also supports RAW shooting, giving you more flexibility in post-processing to recover shadows and highlights.

The ZS45 has a CMOS sensor, generally superior for noise control and burst photography. Although it lacks RAW capabilities, the increased megapixel count and efficient sensor design help produce sharper and cleaner images under varied lighting, making it a great all-around performer.

In practical testing:

• The Olympus delivers pleasant colors and decent dynamic range for well-lit scenes but quickly shows noise and softness as ISO climbs beyond 400.
• The Panasonic shines in low-light, maintaining detail up to ISO 1600 and above, thanks to the CMOS technology and better noise suppression.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

In the critical aspect of autofocus, both cameras show their era’s technology limitations and strengths.

Despite sharing contrast detection autofocus, the ZS45 dramatically improves focus flexibility with 21 selectable focus points and face detection. It also supports continuous AF and tracking modes, essential for capturing moving subjects like children or pets.

The SP-590 UZ, with its single AF mode, requires patience and steady subjects. It performs adequately for landscapes and portraits, but tracking fast action is not feasible.

This feature set makes the Panasonic notably better for wildlife, sports, and street photographers who need reliable, fast focusing in dynamic scenarios.

Real-World Image Sample Comparison

Seeing is believing, so let's look at practical outcomes. Both cameras were tested side-by-side capturing the same outdoor portrait and landscape scenes.

Olympus SP 590 UZ front Olympus SP 590 UZ screen back Panasonic ZS45 front Panasonic ZS45 screen back

• In portraits, the SP-590 UZ gives pleasing skin tones with smooth transitions but the background bokeh is limited by the smaller aperture at telephoto.
• The ZS45 achieves more natural, crisp details with noticeably less noise, but struggles to isolate subjects due to its smaller maximum aperture (F3.3-6.4).
• Landscape images show the Panasonic’s superior resolution and detail retention.
• Olympus’ images appear softer but retain good color accuracy and wide dynamic range.

The takeaway: the ZS45 yields better image clarity and higher resolution “for the price” whereas SP-590 UZ focuses on a more DSLR-like feeling with practical zoom reach.

Display and User Interface: How You See and Control Your Shots

The rear displays significantly influence framing, reviewing, and navigating through settings.

The ZS45’s tilting and high-resolution screen is a huge advantage. It enables composing unusual angles and clearer previews of focus and exposure. For travel, street, and macro shooters, the flexibility is invaluable.

The SP-590 UZ’s screen feels dated with a low resolution and no articulation. The electronic viewfinder partly compensates but lacks detailed information, making framing and quick setting adjustments less intuitive.

Video Capabilities: Creating Moving Stories

Video functionality, although secondary for many in the superzoom range, can be a deal-maker or breaker depending on your content goals.

The ZS45 leaves the Olympus in the dust for video. Recording Full HD 1080p at 30 fps makes it suitable for casual vlogging or documenting trips with sharp footage.

Meanwhile, the SP-590 UZ maxes out at VGA, which feels outdated for modern standards. The timelapse feature is interesting for creatives but severely hampered by low resolution.

Both lack microphone inputs, limiting professional sound recording options.

Performance and Speed: Burst Rates, Shutter, and Responsiveness

The ZS45’s faster 10 fps burst offers better chances in capturing decisive moments in sports or wildlife. The Olympus’s 6 fps can suffice but feels dated for fast shooting needs.

Both have 1/2000 max shutter, allowing good motion freezing in bright light.

The Panasonic’s faster AF and continuous modes complement its higher burst rate perfectly.

Lens and Zoom Reach: How Much Can You Get Close?

One standout feature of these superzooms is focal length range, determining framing reach without changing lenses.

The Olympus SP-590 UZ boasts a longer zoom range, going up to 676mm equivalent, ideal for wildlife or distant subjects. The bright f/2.8 on the wide end is a plus for low-light wide shots and better subject separation.

The ZS45’s 20x zoom is shorter, but still able to cover most general needs. The smaller maximum aperture (as narrow as f/6.4 tele) will limit background blur and low-light telephoto performance.

For users prioritizing reach - birdwatchers or event shooters - the Olympus holds an edge. For travel or everyday shooting, Panasonic’s range suffices with better sensor technology.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Sustenance for Days Out

The ZS45 offers modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, making image transfer and remote control a breeze. This is great for social media content creators or travelers wanting instant sharing.

The Olympus lags with no wireless options, and its use of now rare xD cards limits flexibility. Battery life is undocumented but likely shorter due to older power efficiency.

For extended photography sessions or travel, Panasonic’s battery endurance and flash card compatibility are definite advantages.

Durability and Build Quality: Can It Withstand the Elements?

The Olympus SP-590 UZ includes basic environmental sealing, a surprising feature for its class and age, offering better protection against dust and moisture in challenging conditions.

Panasonic’s ZS45 is a compact that does not feature weather sealing, so care is needed in rough environments.

If you shoot outdoors frequently in unpredictable weather, the Olympus may be more forgiving.

Usability for Various Photography Genres

To sum up performance in different photography disciplines, here is a side-by-side score-based overview.

Portrait Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Good skin tone reproduction and bokeh with wider aperture but fixed contrast AF limits eye detection.
• ZS45: Sharper images with face detection and continuous AF improve subject capture.

Landscape Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Wide zoom and nice dynamic range for the time; limited screen hinders framing.
• ZS45: Higher resolution, better sensor, and articulated screen make framing landscapes easier.

Wildlife Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Long zoom is a plus, but slow AF and low burst speed hamper action shots.
• ZS45: Faster AF/tracking and burst with shorter zoom; better for moderately distant wildlife.

Sports Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Limited by AF speed and burst; suited only for occasional action.
• ZS45: Better tracking AF and 10 fps burst aid sports shooting although small sensor limits image quality at high ISO.

Street Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Bulky and loud; less discreet.
• ZS45: Compact, light, silent with tilting screen fits street and travel well.

Macro Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Close focus to 1 cm and optical stabilization help detailed close-ups.
• ZS45: 3cm minimum focus is good; superior AF accuracy benefits macro.

Night / Astro Photography

• SP-590 UZ: Limited ISO control and sensor make astro challenging.
• ZS45: Better ISO performance, but small sensor still limits dim-light ability.

Video

• SP-590 UZ: VGA resolution limits creative video.
• ZS45: Full HD video with stabilization for casual content creators.

Summary of Strengths and Limitations

Overall Camera Ratings at a Glance

The Panasonic ZS45 clearly scores higher in technical performance, autofocus, and video. The Olympus excels in zoom reach and build quality though it feels dated overall.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose Olympus SP-590 UZ if:

• You prioritize super long zoom (up to 676mm) for birds, wildlife, or big events.
• You want a more traditional bridge camera experience with physical controls.
• You need RAW shooting and the flexibility that comes with it.
• You value moderate weather resistance.
• Bulk and weight are not major concerns.

Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 if:

• You want better image quality and faster autofocus.
• You frequently shoot in low light or motion and need continuous AF/tracking.
• You desire Full HD video, Wi-Fi, and a modern interface.
• Portability and discretion are important for travel or street photography.
• You’re okay without RAW and prefer ease of use.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Technology, Use Cases, and Budgets

When assessing these two small sensor superzooms, consider that the Olympus SP-590 UZ - launched in 2009 - was impressive for its time but shows its age now, particularly in video and autofocus technology. Its strengths lie in extensive zoom and build quality, useful if you prioritize reach above all else.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45, while lacking some pro features like RAW shooting and weather sealing, delivers a well-rounded package for the modern enthusiast - better sensor, focusing capabilities, portability, and video specs tuned for today’s content needs.

Our hands-on testing over various shooting scenarios confirms: technology progression matters. If you want a lightweight, high-quality compact that handles fast action, shoots beautiful landscapes, and can video record in HD, the ZS45 is the superior choice.

However, if you’re an adventurous photographer requiring optical reach, bring-your-own patience, and classic handling, the SP-590 UZ remains a usable bridge camera - especially if found at bargain prices.

Inspiring Your Next Steps

No matter which camera you consider, remember that it's your creative eye that crafts great photos, not just the gear. Both the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Panasonic ZS45 open exciting doors to exploring photography genres from scenic landscapes to close-up macro.

• Check out both cameras in person if possible, feel how they fit your grip and shooting style.
• Consider key accessories like memory cards (microSD for Olympus; SD cards for Panasonic), spare batteries, and protective cases.
• Try shooting samples and assess image quality, especially if you plan specialized photography work.
• Explore online communities and sample galleries to see what others are creating with these cameras.

Photography is a journey - armed with proper gear knowledge, you’re empowered to make the most out of every shot and capture moments that truly inspire.

Happy shooting - and may the perfect zoom be in your hands!