DPReview review of the Sony A580

I didn't expect DPReview to review the A580 because of its limited distribution --but they did. Scores 75 and Silver with high scores on features and value but DPR is not too excited about it.

HERE IS THE REVIEW

Edited by Shercando - 27 May 2011 at 11:40

look at their rating, the high ISO performance is "identical" to the canon 60D, that's a load of bull. how can that be? and the "value" is lower than a 60D, lol... I usually like dpreview but this is really bias.

in fact they gave the D7000 an 80 over all rating, with the sony A580 using the same sensor (and pretty much not much difference), while having built in anti shake and a wooping 400 dollars cheaper (that's 1/3 cheaper than the 1200 dollars D7000) you would think the dam A580 would score a little higher than 75.

Edited by clockwork247 - 27 May 2011 at 15:31

Heidfirst wrote: they ding it for no mirror lock up but I thought that the A580 did have it with the 2 second timer?

It does have MLU on 2 sec. timer.

dpreview is good for their objective measurements. You can take-or-leave their value judgements (I tend to 'leave' them) about what the objective measurements mean.

I really like it when these websites publish empirical objective data. OTOH,some very-reputable websites (DxO and others) intermix empirical data with individual judgements in ways that diminish their value.

"We're disappointed though, to note that two of the features which were glaringly absent from the A550 - mirror lockup and program shift - have also been omitted from the A580. We simply cannot fathom why, in 2011, a camera positioned at this level should lack them, given that program shift, for example, can be found in several modern sub-$200 compact cameras. Admittedly, selecting self-timer release in live view mode effectively gives mirror lockup, but we see no reason why MLU shouldn't be an option when shooting in OVF mode too."

It's really poor journalism to get the feature so wrong. Makes me question the expertise of the reviewer and the thoroughness of their evaluation of cameras. The 2 second time does indeed lock up the mirror, how could they miss that?

It seems pretty positive, are some just looking at a score in the 70s as a demerit? I think it's absurd to hand out "Gold" level awards to every camera, and maybe the A55 garnered it because it offered some exciting new technology to the mix!

Serdar A wrote: clockwork247 and Westcoat: Why are you comparing the A580 to the D7000 or the 60D?

I don't put to much stock in anyone's "personal" review/opinion of a camera, whether positive or otherwise.
And prefer to go by DXO stats and make up my own mind. Although I believe the D7000 is better based on it's built and extra features the image quality is at par, and the a580 trumps the more expensive 60D 80 to 66. (the K5 is way too expensive)
I see these 3 as being in the same class more so than the 2 comparatives that DP chose.
When the a77 comes out, I can't see any immediate competitor until the 300s successor is announced.
(Other opinions may vary)

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera-Sensor/Compare/Compare-sensors/(appareil1)/685%7C0/(appareil2)/663%7C0/(appareil3)/680%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Sony/(brand2)/Canon/(brand3)/Nikon