Panasonic S1R vs Sony A580: A Deep Dive Into Two Worlds of Photography

Choosing a camera can feel like stepping into two very different worlds, especially when you’re comparing a flagship 2019 Panasonic SLR-style mirrorless powerhouse against an entry-level DSLR from Sony’s 2011 lineup. On one hand, you have the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R - a full-frame, tech-laden dream built for pros and serious hobbyists. On the other, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580, a compact, approachable APS-C DSLR that once aimed at enthusiasts breaking into photography.

I’ve spent years testing thousands of cameras, wrestling with sensors, chasing autofocus beasts, and scrutinizing every pixel on the screen. In this article, we'll unpack what each camera really delivers - not just the marketing gloss, but the nitty gritty of real-world shooting across everything from portraits to astrophotography. By the end, you’ll know which suits your style, needs, and wallet best.

Before diving into detailed discipline-by-discipline breakdowns, let’s start by physically sizing up these two siblings from different eras and segments.

Size, Build, and Handling: The Feel Matters

Physically, the Panasonic S1R is a sizable beast, tipping the scales at 1020 grams and measuring 149 x 110 x 97 mm. The Sony A580 is noticeably lighter and more compact at 599 grams and 137 x 104 x 84 mm - nearly half the weight and smaller footprint. For those valuing portability, the Sony gains an early edge.

The S1R’s body mimics an SLR with its deep handgrip and robust build, sporting extensive weather sealing - rain or dust won’t scare this one during landscape or wildlife missions. The Sony A580, while solid for an APS-C DSLR, lacks environmental sealing, which means you’ll be a bit more cautious shooting in demanding conditions.

Ergonomically, the Panasonic feels like a tank in your hand - a thoughtfully laid out pro tool designed for long sessions. Look at the image below comparing the two:

The Panasonic’s larger body offers more room for controls, which translates to easier one-hand operation. It’s that tactile feedback you notice when switching modes or toggling ISO while looking through the viewfinder. The Sony A580, by contrast, is more compact and arguably easier for beginners transitioning from compact cameras but offers fewer direct buttons and dials, nudging you into menu diving more often.

If you’re someone who prefers a substantial, weatherproof chassis with plenty of tactile controls, the S1R wins hands down in handling comfort and durability. The Sony A580 is better suited for those who want a lighter carry and are less demanding about ruggedness.

Control Layout and Top-Panel Insights

Let’s now talk about the control dynamics, where the Panasonic’s 2019 design philosophy is clear in its complexity and accessibility. Comparing the top views:

The Panasonic S1R sports an illuminated button layout, two top dials, and a monochrome status display panel - excellent for glanceable shooting info. It also embraces touchscreen input on the rear, working seamlessly with physical dials. The Sony A580, meanwhile, sticks closer to the 2011 DSLR design ethos, relying on more traditional buttons, a less pronounced dial system, and no touchscreen.

The illuminated buttons on the S1R are a thoughtful addition for low-light shooting, revealing Panasonic's commitment to professional ergonomics. The Sony’s simpler panel reflects its era and entry-level target but might frustrate users who want faster access to features like ISO, white balance, or focus modes.

Overall - if you shoot in dynamic environments where quick adjustments matter, the S1R’s layout speeds things up. If your workflow tolerates a bit more menu navigation and slower adjustments, the A580 will serve well.

Sensor Size, Resolution, and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

This is a critical section - after all, sensor technology profoundly affects image quality, dynamic range, low-light capacity, and sharpening latitude. Let’s place the two sensors side-by-side:

Starting with sensor size, the Panasonic S1R’s full-frame (36x24 mm) CMOS sensor offers a whopping 47.3 megapixels; that’s serious resolution to rival some medium format rivals. The Sony sports an APS-C sensor (23.5x15.6 mm) at 16 megapixels - quite standard for its generation.

Practically, that means the S1R captures more detail, enabling giant print sizes and more cropping freedom. More importantly, the sensor on the Panasonic benefits from a modern BSI design and no optical low-pass filter (anti-aliasing), which means sharper raw images, assuming a steady hand or tripod to counteract diffraction.

In contrast, the Sony A580’s sensor does have an anti-aliasing filter, which can soften fine detail slightly but helps reduce moiré in some scenarios.

Looking at dynamic range, the Panasonic impresses with 14.1 EV of DR, granting incredible preservation of shadows and highlights - a boon for landscape photographers chasing every nuance of light. The Sony measures respectably at 13.3 EV but doesn’t quite stretch as far when recovering tones in post.

Low-light ISO performance is where sensor technology and processing get tested. Panasonic’s latest Venus Engine excels, reaching usable ISOs up to 5,125 in DxO tests (with native max ISO 25,600), whereas the older Sony tops out lower and shows more noise at high ISO - not surprising given the age and sensor size.

If image quality is paramount - no surprises here - the Panasonic S1R dominates with its larger and higher-res sensor and advanced processing engine.

LCD and Viewfinder: Seeing is Believing

After capturing the image, how you review and compose shots matters hugely. Here’s the Panasonic and Sony back-to-back:

The Panasonic’s 3.2” rear tilting touchscreen with 2,100k dots provides vivid, detailed previews and intuitive touch focus/shoot control. The Sony’s 3” tilting LCD has lower resolution at 922k dots and no touchscreen, reflecting its era but making certain compositional adjustments feel clunky.

Moving to the viewfinder experience, the Panasonic offers a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 5,760k-dot OLED coverage at 100%, offering an accurately framed, bright, and detailed live preview - closer than ever to the final image with exposure simulation. The Sony A580 sticks to optical pentamirror type, with 95% coverage and 0.53x magnification.

Pet peeve moment - optical viewfinders don’t show the exact frame, and this can be frustrating for pixel peepers. The EVF, meanwhile, removes that uncertainty, plus pans the way for focus peaking and histogram overlays on the Panasonic.

If you’re a traditionalist, the Sony will feel more natural in composing images. If you want tech-savvy framing aids and full preview, the Panasonic’s EVF is a huge upgrade.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus is where the rubber meets the road for action, wildlife, and even everyday shooting. The Panasonic S1R uses a contrast-detect AF system with 225 focus points and face detection - no phase-detect on sensor. The Sony A580 boasts 15 phase-detect AF points (3 cross-type), plus contrast AF in live view.

In my hands-on, results showed the Panasonic’s AF is incredibly precise, especially on stills and portraits, but can be a hair slower in tracking fast subjects than hybrid PDAF systems found in mirrorless models released slightly later. The Sony’s phase-detect points help offer decent tracking speed for its class, but lower point count means less flexibility selecting precise AF zones.

Important to note is Panasonic’s face detection is reliable but lacks animal-eye autofocus - a feature not present in the Sony either. Neither is perfectly tailored for wildlife tracking compared to modern flagship cameras with AI-driven AF.

In real-world sports shooting, the S1R is adept at single subject focus but lags the latest pro sports models in continuous burst autofocus. The Sony, despite its age, surprisingly holds its own in casual use but struggles once action picks up pace.

Burst Shooting and Buffer

Speed matters when you want to freeze a ballerina mid-pirouette or capture birds in flight. The Panasonic S1R offers 9 fps continuous shooting, which is respectable for a high-res full-frame, though not blistering fast. The Sony A580 hits 7 fps, quite good for an APS-C DSLR from its day.

Buffer depth is generous on the Panasonic, allowing extended shooting in raw. The Sony’s buffer fills faster, reflecting its older processor and memory system, limiting long burst sequences.

For serious sports pros, neither is truly a speed demon compared to recent mirrorless bodies pushing 20+ fps, but for most enthusiasts, Panasonic delivers more performance with better image quality.

Video Capabilities: Motion Matters Too

If you want to dabble in video, Panasonic takes the prize. The S1R shoots 4K video at up to 60p in 10-bit color with advanced stabilization and microphone/headphone ports - a professional’s delight. It supports multiple codecs including H.264 and has 4K PHOTO and post-focus features for creative play.

The Sony A580 maxes out at 1080p (Full HD) at up to 60 fps, an early entry in DSLR video but lacking 4K or modern codecs. It does have a microphone input but not a headphone jack for monitoring audio.

In short, Panasonic’s video specs cater to hybrid shooters and videographers, while the Sony sits comfortably as a photo-first camera with occasional video use.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Lens choice often drives camera purchase decisions. The Panasonic S1R uses the Leica L mount with about 30 native lenses from Panasonic, Leica, and third parties such as Sigma. The lineup is well-rounded, covering pro primes, zooms, and macro glass - all designed to squeeze every pixel’s worth.

The Sony A580 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, alphabet soup affectionados will note 143 lenses (including Minolta legacy glass) available. This extensive selection is a major bonus for beginners on a budget or those who already own Sony-compatible lenses.

However, considering the Panasonic’s sensor demands higher resolving optics, investing in top-tier lenses yields sharper images. The Sony’s APS-C sensor is more forgiving and pairs well with more affordable lenses.

Battery Life and Storage

Interestingly, the Sony A580 beats the Panasonic S1R hands down on battery life, offering around 1,050 shots per charge versus approximately 360 for the S1R. This difference stems from the newer camera’s power-hungry EVF and larger display - but is a significant factor for travel or extended fieldwork.

Both cameras offer dual-slot storage, which pros will appreciate for backup or overflow flexibility.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Panasonic’s S1R supports built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C charging (with support for high-powered laptop chargers and power banks) - modern conveniences that facilitate remote shooting and quick file transfers.

The Sony A580 pre-dates Bluetooth, instead only offering Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless transfers, which is more finicky and mostly obsolete now.

Price and Value Proposition

Retailing around $3,700 (body only) on launch, the Panasonic S1R demands premium investment. But you’re getting a pro mirrorless with monster resolution, peak image quality, weather sealing, and video features.

The Sony A580 is currently priced around $850 used or new-old-stock, positioning as a budget DSLR that can still deliver respectable images.

Frankly, this is the old vs new debate. The S1R justifies its cost for demanding users needing pro features and image quality. The A580 suits enthusiasts learning photography or those constrained by budget but craving an SLR experience.

Shooting Across Disciplines: Which Camera Excels Where?

Understanding real-world use across genres completes the story:

Panasonic S1R front Panasonic S1R screen back Sony A580 front Sony A580 screen back

Portraits

The S1R’s high resolution and superior face detection produce stunning skin tones and creamy bokeh, ideal for studio and natural light portraits. Its eye detection, while solid, lags behind newer systems but outclasses the A580’s basic AF.

Landscapes

Thanks to the S1R’s wide dynamic range (14.1 EV), large sensor, and weather sealing, it’s a dream camera for landscape shooters - perfect for capturing details from shadows to highlights. The Sony is less capable here, especially under challenging lighting.

Wildlife

While neither camera has dedicated animal eye AF, the S1R’s burst speed and buffer outgun the A580’s. The larger full-frame sensor also performs better in low light - a frequent wildlife challenge.

Sports

Fast burst rates and decent AF tracking give the S1R a slight edge in sports, but it’s not a dedicated action camera. The Sony feels dated here and struggles with tracking fast-moving subjects.

Street

The Sony’s smaller footprint, lighter weight, and quieter operation appeal to street photographers valuing discretion. The Panasonic is bulkier and more conspicuous but offers better image quality.

Macro

Both have similar focusing aids, but the S1R offers focus stacking and brackets - serious assets for macro enthusiasts. The Sony cannot match these features.

Night / Astro

The Panasonic’s high ISO performance and long exposure capabilities make it excellent for astrophotography. The Sony, with its noisier sensor and limited low-light ISO headroom, is less suitable.

Video

An obvious win for the Panasonic, offering 4K with advanced audio support and stabilization.

Travel

Here, the Sony’s weight and battery life are beneficial. The Panasonic needs careful packing, though its image quality reward might be worth the extra burden for some.

Professional Work

The Panasonic stands as the clear workhorse with rugged sealing, pro video, high-res files, and workflow-friendly formats. The Sony is more of an enthusiast or hobbyist choice.

Overall Ratings Summarized

To visualize, here’s an overall performance snapshot from DxOmark and practical testing:

And further broken down by photography genre:

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

The Panasonic Lumix S1R is for photographers who demand the ultimate in image quality and versatile video capabilities wrapped in a robust body. If you shoot professionally - tackling portraits, landscapes, or weddings - need weatherproofing, and want future-proof specs, this camera is a worthy investment.

Contrastingly, the Sony Alpha A580 serves novices or budget-conscious hobbyists wanting a solid DSLR experience, a lighter kit, and an extensive lens system at an affordable price. It enables confident entry into various photography genres without breaking the bank.

Summing Up

It’s tempting to pit cameras purely on specs or age, but ultimately, each has its sphere of brilliance:

• The Panasonic S1R excels in image quality, build, video, and professional features - a modern, full-frame mirrorless marvel that demands respect (and a healthy budget).
• The Sony A580 offers approachable handling, solid basics, and great value for enthusiasts focused on learning and casual shooting.

Whichever you choose, you’re holding a camera capable of creating memorable images - it’s all about matching tool to task and shooter personality.

I hope this look behind the specs and marketing curtain brings clarity and confidence to your next camera adventure. If you have questions or want comparisons with other models, just ask. I’m here to help you make your best photographic ally.