Sony DSLR-A580 vs NEX-5

differences

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A580

Faster autofocus

Phase detection

Contrast detection

Catch candid moments easily

Much longer battery life

1050 shots

330 shots

More than 3x more shots per battery charge

Image stabilization

Sensor shift

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Has an external mic jack

Yes

Record high quality audio with an external microphone

Better image quality

80.0

69.0

Around 20% better image quality

Significantly more lenses available

92 lenses

8 lenses

11.5x more lenses available

Less shutter lag

295 ms

670 ms

2.3x less delay when taking photos

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Has a viewfinder

Pentamirror

None

A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off

Higher true resolution

16 MP

14 MP

Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos

Lower noise at high ISO

1,121 ISO

796 ISO

The DSLR-A580 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

More dynamic range

13.3 EV

12.2 EV

1.1 f-stops more dynamic range

Better color depth

23.8 bits

22.2 bits

Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color

Has boost ISO

25,600 ISO

None

Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image

Slightly less startup delay

800 ms

1000 ms

20% less delay when turning on

Slightly more cross-type focus points

Grab focus in difficult situations

Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A580

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Much smaller

111x59x38 mm

137x104x84 mm

4.8x smaller

Significantly thinner

1.5"

3.3"

2.2x thinner

Significantly lighter

287 g

599 g

2.1x lighter

More focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

53	vs	47
Explain scores

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Flip-out screens
	Great for movies

Large sensors

DSLR-A580:	APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
NEX-5:	APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

	3D photos
	View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

	In-camera HDR
	Combines multiple exposures

	Very good maximum light sensitivity
	12,800 ISO

	Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	Many lenses to choose from

	In-camera panoramas
	Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

Good dynamic range

DSLR-A580:	13.3 EV
NEX-5:	12.2 EV

Capture very high resolution images

DSLR-A580:	16 MP
NEX-5:	14 MP

	Supports RAW
	Better editing

Minimal startup delay

DSLR-A580:	800 ms
NEX-5:	1000 ms

	Self cleaning sensors
	Avoids dust in your photos

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Better sensor types
	Better in low light

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/4000 of a second

Few cross-type focus points

DSLR-A580:	3
NEX-5:	0

dxomark

competitors

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Significantly more lenses available

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Significantly more lenses available

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Slightly more lenses available

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$1,098 body only

$1,193 with 18-55mm lens

Has a built-in GPS

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Slightly more lenses available

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Significantly larger viewfinder

Much shorter battery life

Worse image quality

Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens

Weather sealed

Supports 24p

No image stabilization

Worse image quality

Compare the EOS 60D vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens

Weather sealed

Supports 24p

Much more startup delay

Much shorter battery life

Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Weather sealed

Supports 24p

No image stabilization

Screen does not flip out

Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$588 - $598 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Better color depth

Significantly smaller screen

Doesn't take 3D photos

Compare the SLT A58 vs the Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Has a touch screen

More startup delay

Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Has more storage slots

Lower resolution movies

Less dynamic range

Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Supports 24p

Slightly more startup delay

Heavier

Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens

Records high-speed movies

Shoots much faster

Screen does not flip out

Worse image quality

Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Slightly better image quality

Shoots slower

More startup delay

Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

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Sony AlphaDSLR-A580 vs Sony AlphaNEX-5

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A580

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D3100

Canon Rebel T3i

Sony SLT-A55

Canon Rebel T2i

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A57

Canon EOS 60D

Sony SLT A77

Nikon D7000

Sony SLT A58

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony NEX-7

Nikon 1 J1

Sony NEX-F3

appearance

discussion

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Sony Alpha
DSLR-A580
vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5