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Nikon D300S vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SSonyAlpha DSLR-A580
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009October 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP16.2 MP
Largest image4288 × 28484912 × 3264
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200100–12800
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reductionApproximately 16.7 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEGJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.2
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISOISO 100–12,800 for single exposures; Multi Frame Noise Reduction combines six exposures and extends to ISO 25,600.
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountSony A-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst7 fps7 fps
Lens detailBody AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedSony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningTTL 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.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cyclesElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited to approximately 2.5 fpsNormal 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 detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationSteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalAutomatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerProgram, 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 resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps1920 × 1080 at 25 fps
Video detail1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod modePAL: 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).
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivityBuilt-in stereo microphone, external stereo microphone input and mono playback speaker
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,000921,600
Touchscreen–No
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsXtra 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 detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs1050 photographs
Body weight840 g599 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthSony UK and Hong Kong specify availability from October 2010, following the August announcement; no first-sale day is given.
Recording mediaDual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupportedSD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; manual card selector
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal, stereo microphone input and Alpha accessory shoe
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-Fi–
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 950 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cellsNP-FM500H; approximately 1,050 shots using optical viewfinder or 560 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapterSupplied BC-VM10 battery charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger or AC-PW10AM adapter
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 599 g body only; 679 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo.
Colours–Black
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key points–

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