Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A37

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A37, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was launched 4 years prior to the A37 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SP-590 UZ scores vs the A37 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SP-590 UZ & Sony SLT-A37. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery & Sony A37 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ offers exterior dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony A37 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A37 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-590 UZ against the A37.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SP-590 UZ and A37 is 72 and 67 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and A37.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SP-590 UZ because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A37 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.