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Sony A500 vs Sony A580

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Renewed by Sony A560
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Sony A500 and Sony A580, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and they are both created by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A500 was manufactured 21 months prior to the A580 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A500 scores against the A580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony A580

 A500 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony A500

 A580 A500 
LaunchedMay 2011August 2009Fresher by 21 months
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony A580

 A500 A580 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 has got outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Sony A500 and Sony A580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the A500 and the A580.

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A500 and A580 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and A580.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony A580 to produce greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography details
Sony A580 Street photography details
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography information
Sony A580 Travel photography information
43
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (520 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
61
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography details
Sony A580 Landscape photography details
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
has double storage slots
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging factors
Sony A580 Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Sony A500 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony A580
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-08-27 2011-05-26
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630g (1.39 lbs) 599g (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 13.3
DXO Low light rating 772 1121
Other
Battery life 520 shots 1050 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 2
Cost at release $638 $848