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Sony A550 vs Sony A580

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Overview

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).

Photography Glossary

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.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A580

 A550 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony A550

 A580 A550 
IntroducedMay 2011December 2009Fresher by 17 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A580

 A550 A580 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution922k922kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 size comparison

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

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
Sony A580 Portrait photography advice
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony A580 Street photography details
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery (480 per charge)
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography highlights
Sony A580 Travel photography highlights
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (480 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography details
Sony A580 Landscape photography details
66
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
bad battery (480 shots)
no Timelapse mode
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
has double storage slots
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Sony A550 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A580
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-12-09 2011-05-26
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lb) 599g (1.32 lb)
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 score 66 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 13.3
DXO Low light score 807 1121
Other
Battery life 480 pictures 1050 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Dual
Retail cost $749 $848