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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus SP-590 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-3 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-590 UZ was introduced 7 years prior to the K-3 II and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SP-590 UZ matches up against the K-3 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K-3 II

 SP-590 UZ K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K-3 II SP-590 UZ 
ReleasedApril 2015January 2009More recent by 76 months
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-3 II

 SP-590 UZ K-3 II 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ enjoys external measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-3 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the K-3 II.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and K-3 II is 72 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and K-3 II.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will produce more detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography factors
36
has manual focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
79
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography information
Pentax K-3 II Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography information
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography features
58
environment proofing
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proofing
decent MP (24MP)
bad battery power (720 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
45
has manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
bad battery power (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging info
24
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K-3 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-01-07 2015-04-23
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Pricing at launch $249 $829