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Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2012-03-25T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

As good as an APS-C camera needs to be

Sony's 16.2MP sensor is outstanding in an APS-C camera. In the list of pros, I didn't check Easy to Use, because I haven't yet seen a DSLR that's easy to use, unles you just stick with the Auto mode. The many options are great, but not easy to remember how to use - not for me, anyway. The Sweep Panorama function is fun, and makes acceptable panoramas. However, real pano fans will want to stitch a series of portrait-oriented single images. DRO and Auto HDR perform well. The tilt/swivel LCD ought to be on every camera. I didn't check all the Best Uses, because I don't do them all.

Ancient P.

2012-02-19T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Camera

Chose this camera over the Sony A35 because I couldn't get past the electronic viewfinder on the A35. This camera has the optical viewfinder plus the LCD screen which swivels. This comes in very handy. A very capable all around unit.

Joseph L.

2012-01-29T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

great camera for the bucks

used mostly for birds in flight. get some really good shots with it and 300mm f4 lens. not too keen on video ability, but hey, I bought it for birding

goat

2012-01-15T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Truly amazing

This camera is truly amazing. Ultra light and the Sony battery stays charged for quite a while.Love the tilt LCD. Now I can take those photos in the crowds where before I had to guess at it.And for those bright sunny days the viewfinder works nicely. I think Sony has a winner here.

Bill M.

2011-11-27T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great camera

A580 is an impressive camera. It weighs very well against the competition. It feels a little heavy compared to A55...but beats it in low light performace. it is feature packed and an excellent value for the money. Btw, it is compatible with the old legendary minolta AF lenses. You can get those lenses for a fraction of a cost on [@]..and that has expanded my lens choices...which is often considered a negative when u compare sony to canikon.

PRABU V.

2011-11-13T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Big improvement over my Minolta 7-D

In low light and low-contrast lighting, I often use manual focusing. The Live View focus aid is invaluable for accurate focus, when you have the time, and is even helpful when hand held. Low light shots are remarkable. Autofocus is the same as my older (4 generations back?) Minolta.

epshade

2011-09-14T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Sony makes great

I purchased this camera as an upgrade for my A200 which takes clear pictures and is user friendly. The A580 is an evolution of the A200, not a revolutionary camera. In the West we have lots of dust which has required cleaning the sensor manually several times. I could not do that with a fixed mirror in thw way. The A580 has lots of subtle improvements, like expanding the DRO options, moving the AEL button, and producing a sharper pictue. I hope that Sony will continue a line of what they call "traditional" DSLR's.

Kenosha R.

2011-09-04T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic camera-great price-compatiblty

This is a great camera that breaks out of the Canon/Nikon mold. It has a fast 7 fps, low noise and fast autofocus. Even better is the great selection of Minolta Maxxum lenses and flashes. These are great lenses that take beautiful pictures for a lot less than similar priced Nikon lenses.

Robert

2011-09-03T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent camera

Picture quality is excellent

Fred

2011-07-11T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

A Great Camera Value

I combined this camera with the Sony 18-250 lens and found it to be a a great combination. No need to change lenses and miss a shot. It has a good heft and feel in my medium sized hands. I replaced my Sony A100 and can not believe the change in technology in those few years. This was a great buy for me.

DONALD C.

2011-05-14T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Glad I purchased this.....

Image quality a very impressive improvement from my A200. All these new features are a real plus and allow a great deal of flexibility. Yes, I would like a less noisy shutter and better build, as I traipse the the woods a lot going to waterfalls, but those niceties would def increase the price. Excellent camera for the $$.

THOMAS S.

2011-03-12T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Nice camera

This is a great camera for taking auto handheld HDR shots. The controls are very easy to use on the fly especially if you have old eyes like myself! Only negatives for me are that you can't edit photos in camera -- if you want to perform HDR later in another program the AEB range is pathetic - only 3 shots plus minus .7 -- Really couldn't they at least go plus minus +2 for 3 shots?? I also like the fact that you can use all the old Minolta lens -

STEVE A.

2011-01-14T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Amazing camera!

Wow!! I bought this camera to try out the sweep panoramic mode and found that not only is that feature very cool and accurate, but there are tons of other options that are offered as standard options. I just love this camera. The ease of use, the many features, the build quality, I could just go on and on about it! YES I would recommend this camera to anyone! Just love it!

Holly p.

2010-11-29T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Almost perfect

I would give this camera 5 stars but for a few flaws. First it could have been more solidly built. Olympus proves you can build solid cameras for the price range. What's with that dedicated hot shoe? I have to pay an additional $100 to attach my flash units. Shutter is kind of noisy. This probably has to due with the build quality. That being said this is an excellent photographic tool with some excellent optics available. I use the Zeiss vario sonnar one of the best zooms I've used and I've used quite a few! Raw is excellent (that's all I work in) but jpg seems usable. Panorama works well once you get use to it's quirks. I'm not heavy into video but I do have a Nikon and this blows Nikon videos out of the water. Not as versatile as my Panasonic pro video camera but fantastic for the quality you get from a camera that is "there when you need it". [...] I have a test video on youtube under "sony alpha 580 test" shot quick and on the fly. Here's a quick grab shot I did with it.

ARTHUR S.

Sony DSLR-A580 Specifications

  • Resolution

    16.2MP

  • Sensor

    23.4 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor
    RGB Color Filter Array
    Built-in fixed low-pass filter

  • File Formats

    RAW (.ARW)
    RAW + JPEG Fine
    RAW + JPEG Standard
    JPEG Fine
    JPEG Standard
    Video:
    AVCHD
    QuickTime Motion JPEG

  • Color Spaces

    sRGB
    Adobe RGB

  • Creative Color Modes

    Standard
    Vivid
    Portrait
    Landscape
    Sunset
    B&W

  • Image Stabilization

    CMOS -Shift 'SteadyShot INSIDE' system

  • Crop Factor

    1.5x

  • Lens

    Sony Alpha lenses

  • Lens Mount

    Sony Alpha lenses

  • Focus Type

    TTL phase detection AF

  • Sensitivity

    ISO 100 - 12800
    Extended: ISO 25600 in Multi-Frame NR Mode

  • Shutter Speeds

    30 to 1/4000 sec
    Bulb

  • Metering

    Live View: 1200-zone evaluative
    Viewfinder: 40-segment honeycomb pattern

  • Exposure Modes

    Multi-segment
    Center-weighted
    Spot

  • White Balance

    Auto
    Daylight
    Shade
    Cloudy
    Incandescent
    Fluorescent
    Flash
    Color temperature/filter (2500-9900 K)
    Manual (Custom)

  • Burst Capability

    Up to 7 fps in Speed Priority mode (AF/AE fixed at first frame)
    Up to 5 fps with optical viewfinder
    Up to 3 fps in Quick AF Live View mod3

  • Self Timer

    2 sec, 10 sec

  • Remote Control

    Yes, with the optional RMT-DSLR1 Remote Commander

  • Built-in Flash

    Yes

  • External Flash Connection

    Hot shoe

  • Max Sync Speed

    1/160 sec

  • Built-in Memory

    No

  • Memory Card Type

    SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro HG Duo

  • Recording Formats

    AVCHD
    QuickTime Motion JPEG

  • Video Recording

    Yes

  • Video Resolution

    AVCHD:
    1920 x 1080, 59.94i (from 29.97fps sensor output)
    Motion JPEG:
    1440 x 1080, 29.97p or 25p, depending on region
    640 x 480, 29.94 fps

  • Viewfinder Type

    Eye-level fixed optical glass pentamirror

  • Viewfinder Coverage

    0.95

  • Display

    3.0 TFT Xtra Fine LCD, 921,600 dots

  • Live View

    Quick AF Live View (pentamirror tilt system)

  • Connectivity

    USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
    HDMI mini connector (Type C)
    DC-IN
    Remote terminal

  • Battery Type

    InfoLITHIUM NP-FM500H (7.2V)

  • Dimensions

    5.5 x 4.2 x 3.9in / 137 x 104 x 84 mm

  • Weight

    1.5 lbs / 599g

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About Sony Alpha DSLR A580 Digital Camera Body, 16.2 Megapixel, 3.0 inch LCD with 921,600 Pixels, Full HD 1080/60i Movies

FEATURED REVIEWS

Fantastic camera-great price-compatiblty

By Robert

This is a great camera that breaks out of the Canon/Nikon mold. It has a fast 7 fps, low noise and fast autofocus. Even better is the great selection of Minolta Maxxum lenses and flashes. These are great lenses that take beautiful pictures for a lot less than similar priced Nikon lenses.

Glad I purchased this.....

By THOMAS S.

Image quality a very impressive improvement from my A200. All these new features are a real plus and allow a great deal of flexibility. Yes, I would like a less noisy shutter and better build, as I traipse the the woods a lot going to waterfalls, but those niceties would def increase the price. Excellent camera for the $$.

Sony Alpha DSLR A580 Digital Camera Body, 16.2 Megapixel, 3.0 inch LCD with 921,600 Pixels, Full HD 1080/60i Movies Features

  • 16.2MP; amazing Pictures: You get incredible detail and gorgeous enlargements. Thanks to the APS-C sensor size and Sony's Exmor APS HD CMOS technology, the camera achieves high resolution with no penalty in low-light sensitivity or sensor noise
  • Sweep Panorama Mode: Capture expansive landscapes automatically. Press the shutter and sweep vertically or horizontally. The camera does the rest, continuously shooting images and stitching them together. Up to 23 MP image size
  • 7 FPS Continuous Shooting: Up to 7 frames per second in Speed Priority mode can capture the decisive moment in sports or get the ideal baby photo. You can also shoot at up to 3 fps with Quick Auto Focus Live View
  • Face Detection Technology: The A580 enhances Quick AF Live View shooting with Face Detection technology, which helps you get the best shot by recognizing faces and applying the proper focus, exposure and white balance
  • More Responsive Live View: Some Live View systems take a painfully long time to focus. Some even black out the LCD before focus. Either can cause you to miss shots. Sony's Quick Auto Focus Live View solves these problems, making it easier to get the best shot
  • 15-Point Auto Focus Sensor: To get the best shot under a wide range of situations, the A580L uses 11 AF points with four assist points make for flexible shot composition. Three cross sensors maximize precision
  • Hand-Held Twilight Photos: Get cleaner and sharper nighttime pictures-beyond the capability of traditional cameras-without using flash or a tripod. The camera captures six images in a fraction of a second
  • ISO 12800 Sensitivity: Sony's Exmor CMOS image sensor employs new low-noise processing, for uncommonly clear pictures. The BIONZ image processor with chroma noise reduction helps achieve low noise all the way up to ISO 12800, without sacrificing resolution
  • Smart Teleconverter 2x Digital Zoom: In Quick Auto Focus Live View mode, you can extend the optical zoom of your lens with digital zoom. One touch zooms in at 1.4x, while a second touch advances to 2x zoom. The system reproduces pixels on a 1:1 basis so there's no degradation in picture quality
  • 921K Dot Xtra Fine LCD Screen: Sony's Xtra Fine LCD monitor has 921K dots for superb resolution. The Anti Reflection (AR) coating increases visibility in direct sunlight
  • Sony Exmor Technology: Conventional image sensors use only a handful of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, which can slow you down. The Exmor sensor provides more than 4,000 column-parallel A/D converters. This helps enable continuous shooting at up to 7 frames per second
  • Remote Capability: Works with the RMT-DSLR1 Remote Commander wireless remote control, sold separately
  • Dynamic Range Optimizer: Improves results with backlit subjects and recovers details hidden in shadows. Settings include Auto, Level with a choice of five operating levels and Off
  • Up to 5 FPS Continuous Shooting: Up to 5 fps with continuous Auto Focus and Auto Exposure (optical viewfinder mode). Up to 3 fps continuous shooting (Quick AF Live View mode)
  • Eight Scene Selection Modes: To help you get the shot, Scene Selection Modes optimize the camera settings for common shooting situations. Just turn the Mode Dial to select from Portrait, Sports Action, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night View, Night Portrait and Hand-held Twilight modes
  • Six Creative Style Settings: Control how the camera processes your images with six finishing styles: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset and B&W. You can even fine-tune contrast, saturation and sharpness to your personal taste
  • Anti-Dust Technology: Anti-Dust Technology helps keep the CMOS imager clean, resulting in consistently better pictures. First a static-free coating on the sensor's low-pass filter helps repel dust. Then vibration automatically dislodges dust from the sensor each time you shut off the camera
  • Up to 1050 Shots of Battery Life: Take up to 1050 shots on a single charge (optical viewfinder mode); up to 560 shots (Live View mode) with Sony Stamina battery power. Sony's InfoLITHIUM battery system enables you to see the percent of power remaining, so you can keep shooting in confidence
  • Eye-Start Autofocus: For maximum speed, Eye-Start Autofocus begins focusing as soon as you raise the camera to your eye. So the camera is ready to catch the perfect moment
  • Slot for Two Media Types: For cost-effective, convenient storage and sharing of your images, the camera accepts Memory Stick PRO Duo/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC media (Class 4 or higher recommended). (Media sold separately.)
  • P/A/S/M Exposure Modes: The camera offers a full range of controls from the beginner's AUTO+ mode to P/A/S/M: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual. On-screen prompts help you refine your skills, build your confidence and exercise greater creative control
  • Index and Slide Show Display: Quickly review your photos using 4- or 9-frame index views, or as an automatic slide show with fade-in/fade-out effect
  • RAW Image Capture: Saves your pictures as compact JPEG files or ultra-high quality RAW files or both. RAW files save images prior to de-mosaicing, white balance, sharpness and color enhancement. This retains maximum latitude for enhancing the image on your PC