Sony A580
- 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
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
64 Imaging
56 Features
82 Overall
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Sony A580 summary
Sony A580 is Sony's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera originally launched on May of 2011. The camera has got a 16MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a full resolution of 4912 x 3264.
Sony launched this model in order to replace the previous Sony A100 (Read Full Comparison)
The A580 is positioned #25 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & over all #215 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your personalized factors.
The following is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.
Sony A580 history
The Sony A580 is part of a family of products. You can read the detailed list underneath.
Sony A580 Gallery
You can view the A580 from different angles in the gallery underneath.
Sony A580 Pros and Cons
Here is a collection of upsides and downsides of the Sony A580 based on factors which are oftentimes regarded as necessary in a digital camera.
Sony A580 Sensor information
The Sony A580 is run by the Bionz processor. The spec of the sensor in the Sony A580 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4912 x 3264 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter might cause cropping.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 100 - 12800. The ISO can be extended electronically to a maximum of 25600. RAW format is saved so you have more margin for error.
The graphic underneath illustrates the A580's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The A580 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthTo get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Sony A580 dimensions
Sony A580 weighs 1.32 pounds (599g / 21.13 ounces) & has external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3"). The weight of average Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540g so the Sony A580 is heavier compared to other rivals.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesDown below is a picture of the Sony A580 besides a soft drink so you're able to get a feel for its size.
The top view under will show the button layout on the A580.
Sony A580 Lens information
The A580 works with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses that are available. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the A580.
Sony A580 Connectivity
The A580 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can copy images and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.
Certain apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external screen. A lot of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.
Sony A580 Video information
The highest possible video quality in the Sony A580 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and H.264 file format. 1080p quality gives a great balance for video quality vs file size but 1080p won't leave you with any room to crop. Although the body contains a mic socket, it is missing a headphone socket so you won't have the capability to monitor your audio levels.
Sony A580 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing on the Sony A580 so you have to be careful in wet or dusty conditions.
Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder
The Sony A580 has got a 3 inch tilting screen with a resolution of 922 thousand dots.
Sadly the screen isn't a touch screen.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe ViewFinder specs for Sony A580 are as follows:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
- ViewFinder Coverage 95%
- ViewFinder Magnification 0.53x
For sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tough to see, viewfinders can be pretty useful.
Sony A580 Shutter information
Sony A580 has the capability to shoot continuously at 7.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.
Sony A580 Flash and Hot shoe information
Sony A580 comes with both in-built flash along with external flash support. The maximum flash sync is 1/160 sec.
Sony A580 Autofocus information
Sony A580 comes with both Phase Detect Auto Focus plus Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & precise compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has got Face detection which can be helpful for portraits.
The Sensor has got 15 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for moving subjects. Sony A580 comes with manual focus when needed for low light situations or you want to have more accurate control on focus.
Sony A580 Battery life
The battery life (NP-FM500H) on the Sony A580 is fashioned to last for 1050 photographs as per the CIPA measurements which is higher than standard for its class. The average Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x features the best (1900) battery life for this class of cameras.
Below is a collection of Entry-Level DSLR cameras that come with the best battery life:
Sony A580 for different types of photography
The following graph gives a rundown of the Sony A580 for different types of photography. To find out more, have a look at the specific section underneath.
Sony A580 Portrait photography info
The Sony A580 has a score of 73 which is above average, and means the camera is a fine option for portrait photography. Photographing portraits leans greatly towards sensor size, support for RAW photos and potential to work with external lighting.
Sony A580 Street photography features
Getting a nice score of 75, the Sony A580 is a respectable fit to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with Sony A580
A superb sports photography points total of 78 suggests the Sony A580 is a great fit for taking photos of sports. A camera must have good tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
Size is extremely important in getting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sony A580 gets a modest 60 for a travel camera which makes it reasonably suitable to purchase for your travels.
Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
When you are looking to choose a camera for landscape photography, the most significant aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Sony A580 at it's above average rating of 73 for a landscape camera is a respectable option amongst it's rivals.
Sony A580 Vlogging factors
A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Sony A580 is simply not acceptable for vlogging as it gets a really bad rating of 34.
Sony A580 Alternatives
If you want alternatives to the A580, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Entry-Level DSLR.
The graph underneath offers you a summary of the A580 compared to it's top scoring rivals mentioned above.
These are some more cameras you may have a look at as alternate options. To review a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.