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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-600 UZ
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Older Model is Sony A9
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A9 II (Full frame) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-590 UZ was brought out 11 years earlier than the A9 II and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the A9 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony A9 II

 SP-590 UZ A9 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 A9 II SP-590 UZ 
RevealedOctober 2019January 2009Fresher by 130 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A9 II

 SP-590 UZ A9 II 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has 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 Sony A9 II has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the A9 II.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and A9 II is 72 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and A9 II.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A9 II will provide greater detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography info
Sony A9 II Portrait photography info
36
manual focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
85
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography info
Sony A9 II Street photography info
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
includes touch to focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography highlights
Sony A9 II Sports photography highlights
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (690 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Travel photography camera
58
weather sealing
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
better than average battery pack (690 shots)
weather sealing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (690 CIPA)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 II Vlogging highlights
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A9 II
 Olympus SP-590 UZSony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2019-10-03
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 693
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413g (0.91 lbs) 678g (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
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 - 690 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots 1 Two
Pricing at release $249 $4,498