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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Announced November 2011
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The 3D1 was revealed 6 months later than the A580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the 3D1 grades versus the A580 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Sony A580

 3D1 A580 
Display size3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Panasonic 3D1

 A580 3D1 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A580

 3D1 A580 
IntroducedNovember 2011May 2011Same generation
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic 3D1 enjoys external measurements of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 3D1 against the A580.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A580 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 3D1 and A580.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 3D1 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A580 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography factors
Sony A580 Portrait photography factors
27
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Street photography advice
Sony A580 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
75
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic 3D1
Sports photography with Sony A580
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
59
features touch to focus
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.9)
60
great battery power (1,050 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic 3D1
Landscape photography with Sony A580
36
pretty wide (25mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
missing Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (1,050 shots)
2 card slots
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging factors
Sony A580 Vlogging factors
34
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A580
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-11-07 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1300s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lbs) 599g (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 1050 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single 2
Pricing at launch $670 $848