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Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5R
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Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Sony. The image resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A580 was revealed 4 months before the NEX-5N and they are 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-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A580 matches up vs the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony NEX-5N

 A580 NEX-5N 
Screen resolution922k920kClearer screen (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony A580

 NEX-5N A580 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5N

 A580 NEX-5N 
RevealedMay 2011October 2011Same age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A580 enjoys outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the A580 against the NEX-5N.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A580 and NEX-5N is 64 and 89 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A580 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you can expect comparable quality of pictures although you would want to factor the age of the cameras into account.

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A580 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5N Street photography information
75
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
58
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
61
great battery life (1,050 shots)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery power (460 shots)
features focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
2 card slots
does not have Timelapse recording
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
33
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic socket
Photography Glossary

Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-05-26 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 15 25
Cross type focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 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 modes 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 599 gr (1.32 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 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 77
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 12.7
DXO Low light rating 1121 1079
Other
Battery life 1050 photographs 460 photographs
Battery type 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 2 1
Retail pricing $848 $550