Both Olympus SP-590 UZ and Fujifilm X-S1 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Olympus SP-590 UZ's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) and Fujifilm X-S1's sensor is 2/3-inch (8.8 x 6.6 mm ).
Since Fujifilm X-S1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Olympus SP-590 UZ.
Below you can see the SP-590 UZ and X-S1 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus SP-590 UZ and Fujifilm X-S1 Cameras
As seen above, Fujifilm X-S1 has a 2.1x Larger sensor area than Olympus SP-590 UZ. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Olympus SP-590 UZ
or the
Fujifilm X-S1 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3-inch versus 2/3-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
