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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-590 UZ was brought out 4 years earlier than the K-30 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K-30

 SP-590 UZ K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K-30 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedOctober 2012January 2009More modern by 46 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-30

 SP-590 UZ K-30 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the K-30.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and K-30 is 72 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The image here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and K-30.

Clearly, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SP-590 UZ because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-30 will resolve more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
36
focusing manually
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
58
environment sealing
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
24
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-30
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K-30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-01-07 2012-10-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
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 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $249 $525