Clicky

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Ricoh CX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
35
Overall
33

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 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
Ricoh CX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Ricoh CX5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the CX5 (10MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SP-590 UZ was revealed 3 years prior to the CX5 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Ricoh CX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SP-590 UZ scores against the CX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

        

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Ricoh CX5

 SP-590 UZ CX5 

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 CX5 SP-590 UZ 
IntroducedJuly 2011January 2009Fresher by 30 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Ricoh CX5

 SP-590 UZ CX5 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ features external measurements 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 Ricoh CX5 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Ricoh CX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the CX5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and CX5 is 72 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and CX5.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SP-590 UZ to give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography details
Ricoh CX5 Portrait photography details
36
focusing manually
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
27
has manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography details
Ricoh CX5 Street photography details
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (205g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Sports photography with Ricoh CX5
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh CX5 as a Travel photography camera
58
environment proof
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
lighter than competitors (205 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (300mm)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography advice
Ricoh CX5 Landscape photography advice
45
focusing manually
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
44
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging info
Ricoh CX5 Vlogging info
24
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
30
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (205 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Ricoh CX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Ricoh CX5
 Olympus SP-590 UZRicoh CX5
General Information
Make Olympus Ricoh
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Ricoh CX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-07 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lb) 205 grams (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - DB-100
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $249 $399