Panasonic S1 vs Sony A580

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the S1 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S1 was announced 4 months earlier than the A580 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the S1 grades against the A580 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic S1 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

For those who are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S1 provides exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the S1 compared to the A580.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and A580 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the S1 and A580.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A580 will offer you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively.