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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed August 2005
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax ist DS2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SP-590 UZ was announced 3 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the SP-590 UZ matches up versus the ist DS2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Pentax ist DS2

 SP-590 UZ ist DS2 
RevealedJanuary 2009August 2005More recent by 42 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 ist DS2 SP-590 UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax ist DS2

 SP-590 UZ ist DS2 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the ist DS2.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and ist DS2 is 72 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to see the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and ist DS2.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SP-590 UZ will offer you more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern SP-590 UZ will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DS2
36
manual focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
50
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography information
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography information
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (605g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography advice
58
weather proofing
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
52
lighter than competition in class (605g)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (6 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Landscape photography highlights
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
46
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Pentax ist DS2
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no mic support
22
lighter than competition in class (605g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
lack of microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus SP-590 UZPentax ist DS2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Pentax ist DS2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-01-07 2005-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size 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 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 gr (0.91 lb) 605 gr (1.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 feature
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $249 -