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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D 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 K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Successor is Pentax K100D S
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K100D, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 2 years later than the K100D and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SP-590 UZ matches up against the K100D for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax K100D

 SP-590 UZ K100D 
IntroducedJanuary 2009December 2006More recent by 26 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 K100D SP-590 UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K100D

 SP-590 UZ K100D 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has external measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax K100D has sizing of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Pentax K100D in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the K100D.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and K100D is 72 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The visual here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and K100D.

All in all, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ using its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will offer extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger SP-590 UZ provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography details
Pentax K100D Portrait photography details
36
manual focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography factors
Pentax K100D Street photography factors
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
58
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
more heavy than competitors in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
Pentax K100D Sports photography factors
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography information
Pentax K100D Travel photography information
58
weather proofing
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
42
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (660g)
low resolution sensor (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Landscape photography with Pentax K100D
45
manual focus
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging advice
Pentax K100D Vlogging advice
24
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax K100D
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax K100D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax K100D
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-01-07 2006-12-03
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 660g (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $249 $0