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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5

Portability
72
Imaging
35
Features
38
Overall
36
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 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
  • Announced January 2009
  • Successor is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Announced July 2010
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was launched 18 months earlier than the WX5 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SP-590 UZ matches up against the WX5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony WX5

 SP-590 UZ WX5 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 WX5 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedJuly 2010January 2009Newer by 18 months
Screen dimensions2.8"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.1")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony WX5

 SP-590 UZ WX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ provides outer 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 WX5 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the WX5.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and WX5 is 72 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out technical specs. The picture here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-590 UZ and WX5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the identical resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of pictures though you should always factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Portrait photography information
Sony WX5 Portrait photography information
37
has manual focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Street photography with Sony WX5
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Sports photography camera
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Travel photography highlights
Sony WX5 Travel photography highlights
58
environment sealing
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography features
Sony WX5 Landscape photography features
46
has manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
37
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging details
Sony WX5 Vlogging details
24
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic support
32
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of mic support
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony WX5
 Olympus SP-590 UZSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-01-07 2010-07-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.8 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 grams (0.91 pounds) 146 grams (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $249 $250