Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A500

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was announced 7 months earlier than the A500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SP-590 UZ scores versus the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has got physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ versus the A500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and A500 is 72 and 63 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The graphic below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and A500.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature the identical MP albeit different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ comes with the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh trickier. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.