Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 The 16.2-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 ($799.99, body only) is an impressive digital camera with great photo and video quality and several innovative in-camera software tricks. Autofocus is off-the-charts fast, whether you use the optical viewfinder or the LCD to frame your shots. Video recording is little trickier; there’s no autofocus whatsoever in video mode, and you can’t select frame rates. (Sony leaves these features to the Sony Alpha55 ($849.99, 4 stars). If you’re not picky about video, though, the A580 is an easy camera to fall in love with.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Design and In-Camera Software
Like its competitors, the Editors’ Choice Canon EOS Rebel T2i ($899.99, 4.5 stars) and the Nikon D3100 ($699.95, 4 stars), the Sony A580′s body is pleasantly heavy on controls. The many buttons offer quick access to features and settings (ISO, timer shooting, and video mode, for example) without having to dig through menus. The buttons are all the same small size, clearly labeled, and placed around the LCD, and on top of the A580. At 1.3 pounds and 4.1 by 5.4 by 3.3 inches (HWD), the camera is comparable to other entry-level D-SLRs. It can write to Memory Stick Duo or SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. For sharing photos and videos, you can connect the A580 to a computer through a miniUSB port, and to an HDTV through a mini-HDMI port.
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Sony includes two separate shooting interfaces—a simplified one geared toward beginners and a traditional one for seasoned D-SLR users. Both are good-looking with easy-to-navigate menus. One knock: In the traditional interface, you can’t set ISO to Auto. Until now, I haven’t ever seen a D-SLR that doesn’t offer that option.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Specifications
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Type
- D-SLR
- Megapixels
- 16.2 MP
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Media Format
- Memory Stick Pro Duo, Secure Digital Extended Capacity
- LCD size
- 3 inches
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Video Resolution
- Yes
There are two other noteworthy image-merging tricks in the A580′s bag. First is a simple in-camera HDR (high dynamic range) photo mode. Most cameras allow you to auto-bracket, or take 3 consecutive images at three different exposures (one underexposed, one exposed as metered, and one overexposed) so you can later merge them into one master photo in an image-editing program as a high dynamic range image. The A580 automatically merges those exposures on the spot, like the Sony Cyber-shot WX1 ($299.99, 4 stars). The second feature is just a simple way auto-stitching feature for panoramic photos—you just swipe the camera left, right, up or down, and it will put together a single composite image in seconds.
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