This
Olympus SP-590UZ Review is based on a production
model. All sample images are unretouched, except
where specified.
The Olympus SP-590UZ provides a full-featured 26x ultra zoom with a 26mm wide-angle for large group and wide landscape shots and a 676mm tele to bring far scenes up close. Sensor-shift image stabilization helps eliminate camera shake when using long focal lengths.
This camera is packed with features
that should appeal to the serious amateur photographer.
It has a black body with a DSLR-look, has excellent build and construction, and very good handling with a deep handgrip.
A large 2.7 in. LCD has a high 230K resolution and "gains up" well in low-light. The HyperCrystal™ II LCD claims improved contrast and color reproduction and it shows in an image display that is beautifully bright and clear.
Image quality is good to very good at ISO 64. As with most compact digital cameras, higher ISOs tend to suffer from noise and image detail loss.
Performance is very good. AF is fast and precise in both good and low lighting. Though the SP-590UZ has an effective Image Stabilizer, that ultra long zoom is best put to use when you use a tripod.
The availability of PASM modes should prove attractive to learning beginner amateur photographers allowing them to graduate from point-and-shoot photography to being more in control of the camera settings.
More advanced photographers will miss RAW file format and a hot shoe, though wireless flash is available.
The Olympus SP-590UZ has many advanced features
and should prove attractive to beginners as well as more advanced photographers.
What I like about the Olympus SP-590UZ:
Good to very good image quality at low ISOs (ISO 64, 100)
Provide the full range of shutter speeds in P mode
Don't recess the control buttons so much
Improve Instruction Manual (difficult to read, incomplete)
Hot shoe
A tilting LCD would be a bonus
See if you fit the Olympus SP-590UZ User Profile
below:
Olympus
SP-590UZ
User Profile
•
Desire a 12MP resolution
digital camera with very good image
quality (at low ISOs).
•
Desire effective image stabilization.
•
Want a long zoom. Want a long
zoom. Want a long zoom.
•
Want a full-featured digital
camera.
•
Want eveything a beginner or
serious amateur photographer needs to learn,
experiment and grow in digital photography.
•
Want more exposure flexibility
than provided by a point-and-shoot digital
camera.
You can buy the Olympus SP-590UZ from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years:
You can buy the Olympus SP-590UZ from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years:
