Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony QX1

Here is a complete review of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony QX1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The SP-590 UZ was released 6 years before the QX1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the SP-590 UZ grades vs the QX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Sony Alpha QX1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Sony QX1 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with physical 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) and the Sony QX1 has sizing of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony QX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the QX1.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and QX1 is 72 and 90 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and QX1.

Clearly, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony QX1 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.