Sony A580 vs Sony a5100

On this page, we will be reviewing the Sony A580 and Sony a5100, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the A580 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The A580 was released 4 years earlier than the a5100 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A580 scores versus the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A580 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A580 has exterior measurements 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 a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Sony A580 and Sony a5100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the A580 against the a5100.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A580 and a5100 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A580 and a5100.

Clearly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony a5100 to render extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A580 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.