Olympus SP-610UZ vs Sony A580

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus SP-610UZ vs Sony A580, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SP-610UZ (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SP-610UZ (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-610UZ was revealed 4 months before the A580 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-610UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SP-610UZ scores versus the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-610UZ & Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-610UZ Gallery & Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-610UZ has exterior dimensions of 107mm x 73mm x 73mm (4.2" x 2.9" x 2.9") and a weight of 405 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-610UZ vs Sony A580 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-610UZ against the A580.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-610UZ and A580 is 79 and 64 respectively.

Typically, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through specifications. The visual here will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-610UZ and A580.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SP-610UZ having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A580 will give more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively.