Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony S980

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty similar and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was unveiled at a similar time to the S980 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades versus the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides external 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 S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the S980.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and S980 is 72 and 94 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-590 UZ and S980.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of photographs although you should consider the production date of the products into consideration.