Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX10

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony RX10, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and RX10 (1") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was revealed 6 years prior to the RX10 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SP-590 UZ matches up against the RX10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony RX10 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with external measurements 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 RX10 has sizing of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony RX10 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the RX10.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and RX10 is 72 and 58 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and RX10.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SP-590 UZ having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony RX10 will give you greater detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.