When you look at the comparison on the previous page, you will see that the Sony Alpha 580 has very solid specs in virtually every category. In many cases, it is a strong second but overall, this gives it the strongest showing. The image quality is very good, the price is reasonable, it supports full HD video, it has a quick 7 fps burst mode and it is very good in low light conditions. It also offers a flip-out screen and it has a unique built-in panorama mode. The reasonable price of an add-on telephoto lens compared to the other brands is an added bonus.
The Pentax K-5 has very good specs as well however, the high price makes the overall package much less desireable. The Canon 550D is a best seller and gets attention because of its 18 megapixel resolution. When you look at the specs and the picture quality in comparison to the others in this group, you see that it is near the low end of the range in many cases. The Nikon is a solid performer but it is showing its age in this fast moving market. The Panasonic is a Four Thirds mirrorless camera and this makes it somewhat smaller and lighter than the others. It has some good specs but the critical ones, especially the picture quality, don't match the Sony or the Pentax.
quality is very good, the price is reasonable, it supports full HD video, it has a quick 7 fps burst mode and it is very good in low light conditions. It also offers a flip-out screen and it has a unique built-in 