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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-590 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 3 years earlier than the WG-1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SP-590 UZ grades against the WG-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax WG-1

 SP-590 UZ WG-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 WG-1 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedFebruary 2011January 2009Fresher by 25 months

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax WG-1

 SP-590 UZ WG-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ features physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the WG-1.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and WG-1 is 72 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The graphic here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and WG-1.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Pentax WG-1 to show more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
36
manual focus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography info
Pentax WG-1 Street photography info
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
38
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
58
environment sealing
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
environment sealing
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography details
45
manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
42
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging information
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging information
24
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2009-01-07 2011-02-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413g (0.91 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life - 260 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $249 $350