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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Released January 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Older Model is Sony RX100
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 III
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled 5 years earlier than the RX100 II and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SP-590 UZ matches up vs the RX100 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony RX100 II

 SP-590 UZ RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 RX100 II SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2009Fresher by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony RX100 II

 SP-590 UZ RX100 II 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 II has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the RX100 II.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and RX100 II is 72 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The photograph below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and RX100 II.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 II will give extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography advice
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography advice
37
focusing manually
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
70
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography details
Sony RX100 II Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Sports photography camera
38
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography advice
Sony RX100 II Travel photography advice
58
weather sealing
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
80
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
lighter than competitors (281g)
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography factors
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography factors
46
focusing manually
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Vlogging with Sony RX100 II
24
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
37
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (281g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus SP-590 UZSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SP-590 UZ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-01-07 2013-06-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 64 160
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 lb) 281 grams (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life - 350 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $249 $598