Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A580

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is pretty close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-11 was unveiled 3 months later than the A580 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ-11 grades vs the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-11 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-11 provides outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-11 against the A580.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and A580 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The visual here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-11 and A580.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-11 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A580 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively.