Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850
72 Imaging
34 Features
38 Overall
35


54 Imaging
67 Features
60 Overall
64
Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed January 2009
- Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
- 25MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
- Launched April 2010

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Overview
Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) posses different sensor dimensions.

The SP-590 UZ was revealed 15 months prior to the A850 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the A850 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony A850
SP-590 UZ | A850 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ
A850 | SP-590 UZ | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | April 2010 | ![]() | January 2009 | More recent by 15 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+692k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A850
SP-590 UZ | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither has selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither has Touch display |
Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has exterior dimensions 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 Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).
Compare the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-590 UZ and the A850.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and A850 is 72 and 54 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and A850.
As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will offer greater detail because of its extra 13MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A850 Specifications
Olympus SP-590 UZ | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus SP-590 UZ | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Revealed | 2009-01-07 | 2010-04-15 |
Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 25MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 3968 x 2976 | 6048 x 4032 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Maximum boosted ISO | - | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 64 | 200 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 26-676mm (26.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/2.8-5.0 | - |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 2.7" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 230k dot | 922k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 98 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.74x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 6.0 frames per sec | 3.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 8.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | - | 1/250 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 640x480 | None |
Video format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 413 gr (0.91 pounds) | 895 gr (1.97 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") | 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 79 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.2 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1415 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 880 images |
Battery form | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (12 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal | Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 2 |
Cost at launch | $249 | $0 |