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Sony A580 vs Sony A900

Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Key Specs

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
  • Released May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Updated by Sony A99
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Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Sony A580 and Sony A900, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are built by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the A580 (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the A580 (APS-C) and A900 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A580 was announced 2 years after the A900 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A580 scores against the A900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony A900

 A580 A900 
IntroducedMay 2011October 2008More modern by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony A580

 A900 A580 

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony A900

 A580 A900 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution922k922kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Sony A580 enjoys outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony A900 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A580 and Sony A900 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the A580 vs the A900.

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A580 and A900 is 64 and 54 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The image below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A580 and A900.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A580 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A900 will give extra detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer A580 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A580 Portrait photography advice
Sony A900 Portrait photography advice
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
71
focusing manually
MP count great (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography factors
Sony A900 Street photography factors
75
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography advice
Sony A900 Sports photography advice
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 Travel photography info
Sony A900 Travel photography info
60
better than average battery (1,050 CIPA)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
54
environment sealing
MP count great (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A900 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
has dual storage slots
doesn't have Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A580
Vlogging with Sony A900
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
9
lack of video recording
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Sony A580 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony A900
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-05-26 2008-10-22
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 15 9
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
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 599 gr (1.32 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 12.3
DXO Low light rating 1121 1431
Other
Battery life 1050 pictures 880 pictures
Form 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots Two Two
Retail price $848 $2,736