Sony A550 vs Sony A580

Here is a thorough comparison of the Sony A550 and Sony A580, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A550 was unveiled 17 months earlier than the A580 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the A550 scores vs the A580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A550 Gallery & Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 comes with physical measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Sony A550 and Sony A580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the A550 against the A580.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and A580 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The photograph here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and A580.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony A580 to provide extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.