Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony A77

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A77, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and A77 (24MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-590 UZ was brought out 3 years before the A77 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-590 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SP-590 UZ grades vs the A77 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony SLT-A77. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has outer measurements 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 A77 has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony A77 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-590 UZ versus the A77.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-590 UZ and A77 is 72 and 59 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-590 UZ and A77.

Plainly, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SP-590 UZ due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A77 will show more detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.