Sony A580 Operation
The Sony A580 relies on a large, color LCD screen for all user interaction, with its compact size not leaving room for the small LCD info displays that are common on many full-sized SLRs. The user interface is for the most part clear and straightforward, although the A580 does feature the same playback-mode design that we've seen in several of Sony's other recent SLR and SLD models, which separates movie and still image playback -- a confusing design with the potential to cause panic if you're not familiar with the camera. More on that in a minute. One user interface feature of the A580 that we do very much like is the infrared proximity sensor, which can optionally switch off the LCD screen and trigger autofocus operation when you hold the viewfinder up to your eye.
Menus can be navigated by using the four way arrow pad, and the button in the center of the four-way arrow pad makes selections, although there is no marking on the central button to indicate this function. The control dial can also be used to navigate menus, although its main purpose is to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, or aperture, as applicable in the current exposure mode. Since there's only one control dial and two variables to adjust when in Manual mode, the Exposure Compensation button is held in to switch between the two variables. An autoexposure lock (AEL) button fixes the curent exposure level while held down, allowing a metering reading to be taken, and then the subject reframed as desired. Dedicated Drive Mode, ISO Sensitivity and D-Range buttons respectively call up dialogs allowing each variable to be adjusted without delving in the menu system. A dedicated Movie button is used to start and stop video recording, separate from the still image Shutter button. A Depth of Field Preview button adjacent to the lens mount will stop the lens down to the selected aperture while held in, allowing depth of field to be confirmed visually.
An OVF / Live View switch adjacent to the pentamirror / flash housing is used to switch between shooting through the optical viewfinder, and courtesy of a live view feed on the rear panel LCD display. Unusually, this feed comes from a secondary image sensor located in the pentamirror assembly, allowing use of the A580's phase detection autofocusing system during live view. For a higher quality live view feed, the A580 also offers what Sony refers to as Focus Check LV, which is accessed from another dedicated button, and dervies its data from the main image sensor in the same style as most live view-capable DSLRs.
Sony A580 Record Mode
Sony A580 Record Mode Displays | |||
Section 1
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Exposure mode
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Image size of movies |
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Memory card
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Remaining battery |
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Remaining number of recordable images |
Overheating warning |
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Image size of still images / Aspect ratio of still images |
Database file full / database file error |
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Image quality of still images |
No audio recording of movies |
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Section 2
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Shutter speed indicator |
Aperture indicator |
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Exposure compensation / Metered Manual |
Flash compensation |
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EV scale |
Drive mode |
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Flash mode / red-eye reduction |
Focus mode |
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ISO sensitivity |
D-Range optimizer / auto HDR |
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AF area |
White balance (auto, preset, custom, color temperature, color filter) |
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Creative style |
Metering mode |
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Section 3
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Shutter speed |
Aperture |
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Exposure |
AE lock |
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SteadyShot |
Playback Mode Displays
Information Screens
Index View
Magnified View
Movie Playback
Pressing the OK button while viewing a single movie in Playback mode launches movie playback. A second press will pause movie playback, and a third press will resume it. While the movie is playing, rotating the Control dial will cue forwards or backwards through the movie. Pressing the Down arrow button while paused brings up a volume adjustment control, allowing the volume to be adjusted within a seven step range, or the video muted altogether, by either turning the Control wheel or using the vertical arrow buttons. The Delete button deletes the magnified video (after a confirmation screen).
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