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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Launched January 2009
  • Updated by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 23 months before the K-5 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SP-590 UZ grades vs the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K-5

 SP-590 UZ K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K-5 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedDecember 2010January 2009More recent by 23 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-5

 SP-590 UZ K-5 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides physical dimensions 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 Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the K-5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and K-5 is 72 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The visual below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and K-5.

All in all, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 will result in greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
36
you can focus manually
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Sports photography with Pentax K-5
38
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Travel photography camera
58
environment proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography information
45
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 Vlogging factors
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic socket
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-5
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K-5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-01-07 2010-12-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $249 $800