Olympus E-1 vs Sony A580

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-1 and Sony A580, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and A580 (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The E-1 was unveiled 8 years prior to the A580 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-1 grades versus the A580 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 provides exterior dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-1 and Sony A580 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-1 versus the A580.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and A580 is 59 and 64 respectively.

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and A580.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-1 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A580 will give more detail having an extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.