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Sony A580 vs Sony A99

Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced May 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Sony A580 and Sony A99, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are designed by Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the A580 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the A580 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A580 was manufactured 18 months earlier than the A99 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the A580 matches up against the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony A99

 A580 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A580

 A99 A580 
AnnouncedDecember 2012May 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony A99

 A580 A99 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony A580 has outside 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 A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A580 and Sony A99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the A580 and the A99.

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A580 and A99 is 64 and 57 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A580 and A99.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A580 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A99 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged A580 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A580 Portrait photography features
Sony A99 Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
81
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography advice
Sony A99 Street photography advice
75
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography details
Sony A99 Sports photography details
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
low battery power (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
60
better than average battery pack (1,050 shots)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
60
weather proofing
decent MP (24MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
two card slots
no Timelapse function
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
low battery power (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A580 Vlogging factors
Sony A99 Vlogging factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
76
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Sony A580 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony SLT-A99
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-05-26 2012-12-12
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 15 19
Cross focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/250s
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 599 grams (1.32 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 89
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 14.0
DXO Low light score 1121 1555
Other
Battery life 1050 photographs 500 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Dual Dual
Launch price $848 $1,998