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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Released January 2009
  • New Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Revealed May 2012
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K-01, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was released 4 years prior to the K-01 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SP-590 UZ grades vs the K-01 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K-01

 SP-590 UZ K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K-01 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedMay 2012January 2009Fresher by 41 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-01

 SP-590 UZ K-01 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K-01 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the K-01.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and K-01 is 72 and 76 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and K-01.

Clearly, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-01 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography details
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography details
36
manual focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography info
Pentax K-01 Street photography info
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
more heavy than competitors in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
38
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery power (540 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Pentax K-01
58
weather proofing
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
good battery power (540 per charge)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than competitors in class (561 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Landscape photography with Pentax K-01
45
manual focus
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging features
Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
24
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (561 grams)
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-01
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K-01
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K-01
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-07 2012-05-30
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 81
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 lb) 561g (1.24 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life - 540 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $249 $899