1. Introduction 2. Specifications 3. Body & Design 4. Operation & Controls 5. Performance 6. Noise and Noise Reduction 7. Photographic tests 8. Movie Mode 9. Compared to (JPEG) 10. Compared to (Higher ISO) 11. Compared to (RAW) 12. Conclusion 13. Samples

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Review

Review based on a production Sony DSLR-A580 with firmware version 1.11

The Sony DSLR-A580 is near-identical in terms of design and operation to its predecessor the DSLR-A550, and in terms of image quality very similar to its sister-model the SLT-A55. For this review we have therefore slightly shortened our usual review format, concentrating on the differences to the A550 and A55 respectively. To learn everything about the camera you are interested in, we recommend reading not only this review but also the full reviews of the DSLR-A550 and SLT-A55.

The Sony DSLR-A580 was announced, together with the SLT-A55, in August 2010. In Sony's slightly convoluted DSLR line-up it is firmly located in the mid-level bracket, competing with cameras such as the Canon EOS 600D/Rebel T3i and Nikon D5100.

Both the A580 and the A55 continue Sony's tradition of designing cameras which are 'a bit different' from the rest. This is especially true for the A55 which, with its translucent fixed mirror and electronic viewfinder, can't even technically be called an SLR. The subject of our review though, the DSLR-A580, comes with a moving mirror and is therefore more of a 'traditional' SLR, but its second live view mode still sets it apart from the more conventional competitors. Like its predecessor, the DSLR-A550, the camera uses a small secondary sensor in the viewfinder to provide live view with fast phase-detection AF, but can also utilize the slower but higher-resolution main-sensor live view system used by all other manufacturers, albeit only with very slow contrast-detect AF.

The unusual live view concept is not the only element that the new model has taken over from its predecessor. The A580 body is, apart from some minor changes to the button layout and the color of the top plate (black vs gray), visually indistinguishable from the A550. Inside the body shell it is a different story. The A550 captures its images on the same 16.2MP CMOS sensor that we were pretty impressed with in our SLT-A55 review. With the new sensor the camera also gains a few new features, such as 1080p full-HD video, a sweep-panorama mode and a multi-frame ISO 25600 mode, all of which are available on the A-55 as well.

In essence the DSLR-A580 offers an A55 image pipeline in an A550 body which makes it, at least on paper, an ideal solution for those who like the new Sony 16.2 MP sensor's image output but prefer a more traditional DSLR design with an optical viewfinder over the A55's EVF and translucent mirror.

The two-mode live view

One of the most notable features of the new camera is one that has been taken over from its predecessor - the second live view mode. The A580 sports a small secondary sensor in the viewfinder to provide live view with fast phase-detection AF, but can also utilize the slower but higher-resolution main-sensor live view system used by all other manufacturers. Contrast detect AF is now available in this latter mode which as a consequence is now called 'Focus Check Live View' (as opposed to MF Check Live View).

Live view	Optical Viewfinder	Focus Check Live view
Roll your mouse over the above images to see how the light path is redirected between the viewfinder and live view sensor. With the mirror in the up position, the Focus Check mode does not direct any light to the AF sensor at the bottom of the camera and hence can only focus using the slower contrast-detect method.

Sony A580 - key specifications

• 16.2MP (effective) APS HD CMOS sensor
• Maximum ISO 12,800 (with a quasi-ISO 25,600 'Multi-frame NR' option)
• 15-point AF system with 3 cross-type AF points
• Contrast-detect AF in focus check live view mode
• Electronic level in LCD with pitch/roll indicator
• Switchable Memory Stick/SD card slots (only one in use at any time)
• Up to 7fps continuous shooting rate
• 1080p AVCHD movie mode with continuous AF
• Hinged 3 inch LCD with 921k dots
• 3D sweep-panorama
• Socket for external microphone
• Face-detection AF (focus via nearest phase-detection AF point)

At the same time as the DSLR-A580 Sony also launched the sister model A560. The only difference between the two models is the imaging sensor. The A560 captures its images on a 14.2 MP CMOS sensor instead of the A580's 16.2 MP.

Foreword / notes

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.

To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).

This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.

1. Introduction 2. Specifications 3. Body & Design 4. Operation & Controls 5. Performance 6. Noise and Noise Reduction 7. Photographic tests 8. Movie Mode 9. Compared to (JPEG) 10. Compared to (Higher ISO) 11. Compared to (RAW) 12. Conclusion 13. Samples