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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The SP-590 UZ was announced 5 years before the K-500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K-500

 SP-590 UZ K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K-500 SP-590 UZ 
RevealedNovember 2013January 2009More recent by 59 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-500

 SP-590 UZ K-500 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides outer measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the K-500.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and K-500 is 72 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and K-500.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will offer more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots far more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
36
manual focus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography info
Pentax K-500 Street photography info
59
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography factors
Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
58
environment sealing
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
great battery life (710 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
24
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K-500
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-01-07 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
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
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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 Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 646g (1.42 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 Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 photos
Battery style - AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
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 1 1
Pricing at release $249 $600