Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony HX80

The following is a extended assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony HX80, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and HX80 (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was revealed 8 years earlier than the HX80 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the HX80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80. The full galleries are available at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony HX80 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ features outer 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 HX80 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony HX80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the HX80.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and HX80 is 72 and 91 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and HX80.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony HX80 to give you more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.