Sony · Alpha
Alpha DSLR-A580
The Alpha A580 is a 16.2 MP A-mount DSLR with an optical viewfinder, sensor-shift stabilisation, dual live-view systems and Full HD video.
- Type
- DSLR
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Megapixels
- 16.2
- Lens
- Sony A-mount
- Video
- 1920 × 1080 at 25 fps
- Body weight
- 599 g
What reviewers say
Both reviews praised handling, fast live-view autofocus, stabilisation, battery life and image quality. Photography Blog noted detail loss from high-ISO noise reduction; Adorama was more enthusiastic about ISO 6400 results. Both identified limited movie focusing, while Photography Blog criticised the restricted screen articulation and Adorama found its burst buffer below the maker claim.
From photographyblog.com and adorama.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- DSLR
- Sensor format
- APS-C
- Sensor type
- Exmor APS HD CMOS
- Sensor dimensions
- 23.5 × 15.6 mm
- Effective resolution
- 16.2 MP
- Largest image
- 4912 × 3264
- RAW recording
- Yes
- Standard ISO range
- 100–12800
- Sensor detail
- Approximately 16.7 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
- Image formats
- JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.2
- ISO detail
- ISO 100–12,800 for single exposures; Multi Frame Noise Reduction combines six exposures and extends to ISO 25,600.
- Image processor
- BIONZ
Lens and shooting
- Lens mount
- Sony A-mount
- Stabilisation
- Sensor shift
- Maximum continuous burst
- 7 fps
- Lens detail
- Sony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
- Autofocus
- TTL phase detection: 15 points in live view, including three cross-type points; 11 points with optical viewfinder. Single, automatic and continuous AF; Focus Check Live View also offers contrast AF.
- Shutter
- Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
- Burst detail
- Normal continuous: up to 5 fps with optical viewfinder or 3 fps in live view. Speed Priority: up to 7 fps with focus and exposure locked at the first frame. Maker buffer: approximately 44 Fine JPEG, 22 RAW or 20 RAW+JPEG frames, depending on conditions and media.
- Stabilisation detail
- SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
- Flash
- Automatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
- Exposure controls
- Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and scene modes; 40-segment optical-finder metering, 1,200-zone Quick AF Live View metering. Auto HDR combines three exposures; 2D/3D Sweep Panorama and handheld twilight modes.
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 1920 × 1080 at 25 fps
- Video detail
- PAL: AVCHD 1920 × 1080, 50i recording from 25 fps sensor output at approximately 17 Mbps; MP4 1440 × 1080 or VGA at 25 fps. NTSC versions use 59.94i recording from 29.97 fps output. No continuous autofocus during recording (Photography Blog).
- Audio
- Built-in stereo microphone, external stereo microphone input and mono playback speaker
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- Optical
- Screen size
- 3″
- Screen dots
- 921,600
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- Yes
- Display detail
- Xtra Fine LCD tilts 90° up and down. Dedicated-sensor Quick AF Live View covers 90%; main-sensor Focus Check Live View covers 100%, with 7×/14× magnification, grid lines and level gauge.
- Viewfinder detail
- Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 1050 photographs
- Body weight
- 599 g
- Release detail
- Sony UK and Hong Kong specify availability from October 2010, following the August announcement; no first-sale day is given.
- Recording media
- SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; manual card selector
- Ports
- USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal, stereo microphone input and Alpha accessory shoe
- Battery life detail
- NP-FM500H; approximately 1,050 shots using optical viewfinder or 560 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
- Charging
- Supplied BC-VM10 battery charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger or AC-PW10AM adapter
- Dimensions
- Approximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
- Weight detail
- Approximately 599 g body only; 679 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo.
- Colours
- Black
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sensor-shift stabilisation with compatible A-mount lenses
- Fast phase-detection autofocus in live view
- Tilting screen and magnified manual-focus preview
Cons
- No continuous autofocus during movie recording
- Quick AF Live View covers only 90% of the frame
- No automatic switch between memory cards
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSLR | APS-C | 14.2 | Nikon F mount | 1920 × 1080 at 24 fps | 455 g | Sept 2010 | |
| DSLR | APS-C | 16.2 | Nikon F mount | 1920 × 1080 at 24 fps | 690 g | Oct 2010 | |
| DSLR | APS-C | 12.3 | Nikon F mount | 1280 × 720 at 24 fps | 840 g | Aug 2009 |
Sources
- sony-asia.com/corporate/resources/en_AP/pdf/Spec_sheet_a580_and_a560.pdf
- mynewsdesk.com/uk/sony-europe/pressreleases/sony-introduces-high-performance-ds…
- sony.com.hk/press/pdf/20100831_02e.pdf
- photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_a580_review
Photo: adorama.com
