Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony W550

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was released 3 years earlier than the W550 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SP-590 UZ grades against the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Sony W550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ offers exterior dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony W550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the W550.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and W550 is 72 and 96 respectively.

Quite often, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The image underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and W550.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony W550 to render greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind in sensor tech.