Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
August, 2010

Summary Sony DSLR-A580

Prices Price
Body only Unknown With 18-55mm lens $619 - $779
all DSLR-A580 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 8 Among similar cameras #n/a of 15
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.5x15.6mm Screen resolution Help 921k dots
Megapixels Help 16 MP Movie format Help 1080p @ 30fps
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 12,800 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 lenses at LensHero
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

reviewsWhat are people saying about the DSLR-A580

"The DSLR-A580's imaging pipeline is near identical to the translucent mirror model SLT-A55."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's image-quality
"Consistently reliable metering and AF"
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus
"The A580 captures excellent quality screen-filling 1080p video footage. The motion is smooth and there are no visible artifacts"
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's video-quality

Videos

Sony A580 DSLR sample video

Sony A580 Full HD video with T...
Sony A580 DSLR sample video
  • Sample video
  • Demo
  • 720p HD
 Sony A580 Full HD video with Tamron 90mm/f2.8
  • Sample video
  • Manual focus
  • Shallow DOF
  • 1080p Full HD

Browse all Sony DSLR-A580 videos

Pros

The Sony DSLR-A580 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Dynamic range Wide dynamic range Help
13.3 EV
Screen flips out Flip-out screen Help
Great for movies
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Sensor size Slightly larger than average sensor Help
APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Battery life Incredible battery life Help
1050 shots
Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
1,121 ISO
Overall image quality Great overall image quality Help
80.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.8 bits
Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
3D Takes 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

Cons

The Sony DSLR-A580 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

True resolution Lower true resolution Help
16 MP
Supports 24p No 24p movies Help
Missing that film look
Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Shutter lag Longer shutter lag Help
295 ms shutter lag
Size Quite large Help
Professional size 137x104x84 mm
Thickness Thick Help
3.3"
Viewfinder size Small viewfinder Help
0.52x
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available Help
92 lenses
Announced Old Help
August, 2010
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users

dxomark

DXOMark

Appearance

front photo of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580back photo of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580angle photo of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Discussion What do you think about the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 25 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:25 PM, June 21, 2012)
Hey Mark, thanks for messaging us. According to Sony the A580 only has one storage slot that can take a SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Due, or Memory Stick Pro-HG Due. That means it can only have one card in at a time. Hope that helps.
 
Mark (1:10 AM, June 21, 2012)
A 580 has 2 card slots, not one!

You state the A580 has only one memory card slot.  This is incorrect as it has two.  One is an SD card slot and the other a Sony MS Pro Duo-HG, therefore your comparisons stating it has fewer memory card slots than the Sony A700 for example are wrong and you're going to have to amend all your comparisons for the Sony A580 accordingly.  How you can get this feature so wrong is bordering on incompetence by the reviewer.  I would also suggest you also amend your ratings for the camera to take this into account. 
 
Avatar for Claire AUIA Claire AUIA (11:47 PM, April 24, 2012)
I have this camera it's great and works amazing ! i got this with the twin lens kit :)) 
Below is an image i took outside my yard :)
 
Avatar for Crysania Crysania (4:38 PM, March 21, 2012)
Despite the fact that this camera has recently been discontinued, it's still one of the best of the line.  I just purchased one and I've had it for only 5 days and I'm amazed at the image quality and its ability to take high ISO photos with little grain.  I upgraded from the A230 and I'm definitely a fan!  If you can get your hands on this camera, do so!
 
Larry (5:39 PM, December 28, 2011)
Definetly the Sony a580 it has better specs than all of the others.
 
Terry (5:36 PM, December 28, 2011)
Ya totaly agree with you.
 
Larry (5:34 PM, December 28, 2011)
agreed
 
Tom (5:33 PM, December 28, 2011)
Probably the T3i because of its special video options, but for pictures then Nikon d5100 and d3100 and a580 totaly beat it in terms of colors and low light preformance. The sony a580 can distinguish 3x more colors and the pictures look much less grainy (my friend has the t3i and I have the a580). So if you are just looking for video you can go with the t3i or i suggest looking for a camcorder. If you want an all far superior camera go with the sony a580.
 
Tom (5:28 PM, December 28, 2011)
This camera has comparable specs to high end prosumer cameras like the d7000 and the canon 60D! I just ordered mine.
 
Darryl B. (6:53 AM, November 30, 2011)
Should i buy two of the a580's or one a900? All comments are well appreciated!
 
Nicdem25 (1:49 PM, October 26, 2011)
Which one is better for movies? The Nikon D5100, the Canon T2i, the Canon T3i, The Nikon D3100, or this?
 
Ligia Rossini (4:02 PM, August 31, 2011)
absolutly you should chose a sony a-580 these cameras are awesome.
A few months  ago I has almost the same questio, nikon d7000 or a-580?? but after a lot of researches I found the best one APLHA A-580.
 
Ehmo (9:50 PM, August 19, 2011)
Anyone could help me decide? i was bit wondering what would be better to invest with, Nikon D5100 or  Sony Alpha A580? i have Nikon D90 with me but has bigger pixels. please can anyone advice me on this, it was really a tough decision to make... Snapshot need your kind advice, by the end of this month I will be owning one of this....Thank you for reading... HAPPY CLICKING...
 
Avatar for Rodrigo SilvaSantos Rodrigo SilvaSantos (7:18 PM, July 07, 2011)
Sony A580 Is your choice
 
I know...you don't (2:45 AM, June 29, 2011)
You should read more...the Nikon D7000 sensor is made by Sony......so ...who pay who...I have Canon and nikon cameras but even if i don't like sony in some terms...we have to recognize that sony sensor will be appear in several cameras.....you liked or not..period...by the way..nokon will use sony sensors in 1 or 2 new cameras that will be released by the end of this year or at the beguining of 2012....in your face...
 
Inglaof (5:45 AM, June 23, 2011)
i like sony dslr cameras, i used to had a a330. But someone stolen from me, so, im looking a new camera, i first think to repleace it with the a390, test it and its almos the same, but, i just try the Nikond5100 and i was stunned, the lens looks and feel better quality, also try the sony A55, looks great but im still not convinced about the electronic visor, but i'll recognize that im impressed with it, but still like mor the pentamirror.
 
Rickwardyork (7:11 PM, June 20, 2011)
l have the 230,450,55v but love my 580 best of all  brill
 
Vacky (7:02 PM, June 18, 2011)
Is there any news for A590?
 
Guest_ (10:49 PM, May 18, 2011)
Why Sony is so criticized by Canikon users?

"Sony users = geeks"
"Sony = cheating"
"Sony pays DXOmark to increase their scores"

What a pity! I don't love Sony, neither Nikon/Canon, I simply love photography !

Actually, D7000 and A580 have the same Sony sensor, the main difference is that D7000 is twice more expensive !  That's all !
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:50 AM, May 14, 2011)
Hi Bluepearl, each spec or pro/con should have a little (i) symbol beside them which if you click you can learn all about!


The color depth rating is obtained from DxOMark, who test cameras using standardized benchmarks.
 
Bluepearl 0104 (4:06 AM, May 13, 2011)
color depth is not listed in the specification at sonystyle.com. I was wondering from where 23.8 bit coming from?
 
Avatar for lamboram lamboram (4:45 PM, May 11, 2011)
Still photography - A580
Video - A55.. :)
 
Avatar for lamboram lamboram (5:30 PM, May 10, 2011)
@Za1n:disqus I got a A580 cuz,
1. better image quality [own experience in the tryout shop and with friends opinons]
2. DSLR feel
3. better judgement of the photo with OVF
4. better for still photography
5. still has the upsides of A55 like Panorama, HDR, 3D and the beats the A55 in battery life, color depth and manual operations.

I agree the A55 is monstorously fast in Auto focus, but in still image both uses same sensor and same phase detection auto focus. so its the video and weight where A55 slams A580.. well i m not in to video.. So i guess A580 is my kinda gear and its lots cheaper, i got mine in Germany for 700 Euros with 18-55 kit lens. :) Do get one soon.. Happy clicking :)
 
Avatar for lamboram lamboram (2:09 PM, May 10, 2011)
Can anyone tell me the quality of the EVF vs OVF between the A580 and A55... I m getting one of these soon.. Pls help..
 
Rods Santos (4:15 AM, May 03, 2011)
Hi Za1n
Id say the A580!!!! I is more like a pro camera. Much better batery life, biger size... I was in the same problem and then decided to go for the A580 and im happy since then..