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Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5N
Photography Glossary

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are built by Sony. The resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A580 was launched 12 months later than the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the A580 matches up versus the NEX-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony NEX-5

 A580 NEX-5 
AnnouncedMay 2011June 2010More recent by 12 months
Screen resolution922k920kClearer screen (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony A580

 NEX-5 A580 

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5

 A580 NEX-5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A580 offers outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the A580 vs the NEX-5.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A580 and NEX-5 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A580 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony A580 to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent A580 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5 Street photography info
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography factors
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
52
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography details
60
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
59
decent MP (14MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
two card slots
lack of Time Lapse recording
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A580 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone jack
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Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-05-26 2010-06-07
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 15 25
Cross type focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Number of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 599 grams (1.32 pounds) 287 grams (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 69
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1121 796
Other
Battery life 1050 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Cost at launch $848 $599