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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 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
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony A6500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-590 UZ was brought out 8 years prior to the A6500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony A6500

 SP-590 UZ A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 A6500 SP-590 UZ 
LaunchedOctober 2016January 2009More recent by 94 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A6500

 SP-590 UZ A6500 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ offers physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony A6500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SP-590 UZ versus the A6500.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and A6500 is 72 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The visual below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and A6500.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-590 UZ featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A6500 will result in more detail having its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography information
Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
37
you can focus manually
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
80
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography information
Sony A6500 Street photography information
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography advice
Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
38
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
77
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography information
Sony A6500 Travel photography information
58
weather proofing
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery (350 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography factors
Sony A6500 Landscape photography factors
46
you can focus manually
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging highlights
Sony A6500 Vlogging highlights
24
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
no external microphone socket
39
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A6500
 Olympus SP-590 UZSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Sony Alpha a6500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2016-10-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 425
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 gr (0.91 lbs) 453 gr (1.00 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $249 $1,298