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Sony A580

 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
  • 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
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67

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 #23 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & over all #206 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your personalized factors.

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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.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-SLT-A68 front thumbnailSony A68
A580 vs A68
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2015
Sony-SLT-A58 front thumbnailSony A58
A580 vs A58
20MPAPS-C8.0 fps2013
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Sony-SLT-A57 front thumbnailSony A57
A580 vs A57
16MPAPS-C12.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A37 front thumbnailSony A37
A580 vs A37
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A65 front thumbnailSony A65
A580 vs A65
24MPAPS-C10.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A35 front thumbnailSony A35
A580 vs A35
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2011
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A580 front thumbnailSony A58016MPAPS-C7.0 fps2011
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A560 front thumbnailSony A560
A580 vs A560
14MPAPS-C5.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A33 front thumbnailSony A33
A580 vs A33
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A55 front thumbnailSony A55
A580 vs A55
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A390 front thumbnailSony A390
A580 vs A390
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A290 front thumbnailSony A290
A580 vs A290
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A450 front thumbnailSony A450
A580 vs A450
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550 front thumbnailSony A550
A580 vs A550
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500 front thumbnailSony A500
A580 vs A500
12MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A380 front thumbnailSony A380
A580 vs A380
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A330 front thumbnailSony A330
A580 vs A330
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A230 front thumbnailSony A230
A580 vs A230
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A200 front thumbnailSony A200
A580 vs A200
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A350 front thumbnailSony A350
A580 vs A350
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A300 front thumbnailSony A300
A580 vs A300
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100 front thumbnailSony A100
A580 vs A100
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

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.

change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
comes with phase detect auto focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
does have HDMI support
does have mic jack
flash built-in
good minimum ISO (100)
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
has dual storage slots
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
manual focus
nice clear screen (922 thousand dot)
nice screen size (3 inch)
offers face detect focus
offers tracking focus
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of headphone jack
lack of Time Lapse function
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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.

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The 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.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 sensor size Leica to Release Innovative Hybrid Medium Format Camera in 2 Years

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

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.

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Down below is a picture of the Sony A580 besides a soft drink so you're able to get a feel for its size.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 dimensions scale

The top view under will show the button layout on the A580.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 topview buttons dials

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.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-18-250mm-F3.5-6.3-DC-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM18-250mmf/3.5-6.3 628g
Sigma-18-125mm-F3.8-5.6-DC-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC HSM18-125mmf/3.8-5.6 490g
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Tamron-AF-18-250mm-F3.5-6.3-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro18-250mmf/3.5-6.3 430g
Tamron-SP-AF-90mm-F2.8-Di-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron SP AF 90mm F2.8 Di Macro90mmf/2.8 405g
Tamron-AF-18-200mm-F3.5-6.3-XR-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron AF 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro18-200mmf/3.5-6.3 398g
Sigma-50-500mm-F4.5-6.3-DG-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM50-500mmf/4.5-6.3 1970g
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Samyang-85mm-F1.4-Aspherical-IF-Sony-Alpha lensSamyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF85mmf/1.4 539g
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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.

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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.

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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.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 screen and viewfinder TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The 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.

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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.

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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 74 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.

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you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files

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.

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screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files

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.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus

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 nice 61 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent pick to purchase for your travels.

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great battery power (1,050 per charge)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen

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 74 for a landscape camera is a respectable option amongst it's rivals.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
has dual storage slots
lack of Time Lapse recording

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.

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image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen

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.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Type
Entry-Level DSLR
Announced
2011-05-26
Body design
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Bionz
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4912 x 3264
RAW pictures
Max native ISO
12800
Max enhanced ISO
25600
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
15
Cross focus points
3
Lens
Lens mounting type
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses
143
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Range of screen
Tilting
Screen sizing
3 inch
Screen resolution
922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95%
Viewfinder magnification
0.53x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
80
DXO Color Depth score
23.8
DXO Dynamic range score
13.3
DXO Low light score
1121
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
12.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest 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)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
599g (1.32 lbs)
Dimensions
137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
1050 images
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-FM500H
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
2
Launch price
$848