Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A580

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus SH-1 versus Sony A580, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively close but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The SH-1 was revealed 2 years later than the A580 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the SH-1 matches up against the A580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus SH-1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-1 Gallery & Sony A580 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 features exterior measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-1 versus Sony A580 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-1 and the A580.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and A580 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and A580.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The SH-1 provides the smaller sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult. The newer SH-1 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.