Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A580

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus VR-320 versus Sony A580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The VR-320 was revealed 2 months after the A580 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the VR-320 scores against the A580 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VR-320 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus VR-320 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 enjoys exterior dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-320 versus Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the VR-320 vs the A580.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and A580 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Normally, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-320 and A580.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VR-320 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A580 will give you extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively.