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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500

Portability
72
Imaging
34
Features
38
Overall
35
Olympus SP-590 UZ front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 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
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-600 UZ
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Older Model is Sony WX350
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SP-590 UZ was announced 7 years prior to the WX500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the WX500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-590 UZ over the Sony WX500

 SP-590 UZ WX500 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus SP-590 UZ

 WX500 SP-590 UZ 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2009Fresher by 76 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony WX500

 SP-590 UZ WX500 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-590 UZ comes with outside dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ versus Sony WX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ compared to the WX500.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and WX500 is 72 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and WX500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Sony WX500 to offer extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
36
focusing manually
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
39
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Street photography features
Sony WX500 Street photography features
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (236 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Sports photography factors
Sony WX500 Sports photography factors
38
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-590 UZ
Travel photography with Sony WX500
58
weather proofing
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery power (360 shots)
lighter than average (236 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Landscape photography details
Sony WX500 Landscape photography details
45
focusing manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
49
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
good battery power (360 shots)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-590 UZ Vlogging information
Sony WX500 Vlogging information
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone support
35
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (236 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony WX500
 Olympus SP-590 UZSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SP-590 UZ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-01-07 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 413 gr (0.91 pounds) 236 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life - 360 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $249 $348