Sony A580 vs Sony a1

On this page, we will be matching up the Sony A580 versus Sony a1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both created by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the A580 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the A580 (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The A580 was revealed 10 years prior to the a1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A580 grades against the a1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A580 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A580 enjoys external 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 a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A580 versus Sony a1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the A580 against the a1.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A580 and a1 is 64 and 61 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The visual below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A580 and a1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A580 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will give you extra detail because of its extra 34 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older A580 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.