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Sony A580 vs Sony HX300

Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
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Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony A580 versus Sony HX300, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is pretty similar but the A580 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The A580 was manufactured 21 months earlier than the HX300 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the A580 matches up against the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony HX300

 A580 HX300 
Screen resolution922k921kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A580

 HX300 A580 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013May 2011Newer by 21 months

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony HX300

 A580 HX300 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A580 has got external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Sony A580 versus Sony HX300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the A580 vs the HX300.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A580 and HX300 is 64 and 63 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The image here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A580 and HX300.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A580 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX300 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged A580 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
42
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography features
Sony HX300 Street photography features
75
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography factors
Sony HX300 Sports photography factors
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery pack (1,050 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
60
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
54
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (623 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX300 Landscape photography highlights
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
two card slots
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
48
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A580 Vlogging details
Sony HX300 Vlogging details
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
25
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than average (623g)
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Sony A580 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony HX300
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-05-26 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 15 9
Cross focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 922k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 599 grams (1.32 lb) 623 grams (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 1121 not tested
Other
Battery life 1050 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo -
Storage slots Dual One
Price at launch $848 $339