Olympus SP-590 UZ vs Sony ZV-1

The following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony ZV-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-590 UZ (12MP) and ZV-1 (20MP) and the SP-590 UZ (1/2.3") and ZV-1 (1") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-590 UZ was brought out 12 years earlier than the ZV-1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology 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 ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SP-590 UZ scores against the ZV-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony ZV-1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-590 UZ Gallery and Sony ZV-1 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SP-590 UZ has outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") having a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony ZV-1 has specifications of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") and a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-590 UZ and Sony ZV-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-590 UZ vs the ZV-1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-590 UZ and ZV-1 is 72 and 88 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-590 UZ and ZV-1.

As you can see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SP-590 UZ due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony ZV-1 will provide greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged SP-590 UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.