Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-5R

Following is a extended overview of the Sony A580 versus Sony NEX-5R, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are produced by Sony. The image resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A580 was unveiled 15 months prior to the NEX-5R which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the A580 scores against the NEX-5R for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A580 Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A580 comes with physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Look at the Sony A580 versus Sony NEX-5R in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the A580 versus the NEX-5R.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A580 and NEX-5R is 64 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A580 and NEX-5R.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of files although you may want to consider the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged A580 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.