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Nikon D100 vs Sony A850

Portability
58
Imaging
42
Features
33
Overall
38
Nikon D100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
60
Overall
64

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Nikon D100
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 780g - 144 x 116 x 81mm
  • Introduced July 2002
  • Successor is Nikon D200
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Nikon D100 vs Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the D100 (6MP) and A850 (25MP) and the D100 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The D100 was revealed 8 years before the A850 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the D100 grades versus the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D100 over the Sony A850

 D100 A850 

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Nikon D100

 A850 D100 
LaunchedApril 2010July 2002Newer by 94 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution922k118kSharper screen (+804k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D100 and Sony A850

 D100 A850 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D100 comes with outer measurements of 144mm x 116mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 780 grams (1.72 lbs) and the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the D100 vs the A850.

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D100 and A850 is 58 and 54 respectively.

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the D100 and A850.

Clearly, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D100 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A850 will deliver more detail because of its extra 19 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged D100 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D100 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A850 Portrait photography highlights
49
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
low MP (6MP)
72
manual focus
great megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Nikon D100 Street photography advice
Sony A850 Street photography advice
51
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D100
Sports photography with Sony A850
37
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (6 megapixels)
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D100
Travel photography with Sony A850
41
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (6MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
55
environment proof
great megapixels (25MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D100 Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
44
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inch)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
no liveview feature
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D100 Vlogging factors
Sony A850 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D100 and Sony A850
 Nikon D100Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2002-07-26 2010-04-15
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3008 x 2000 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 118k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 11.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 780 gr (1.72 lbs) 895 gr (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 144 x 116 x 81mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.2") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 2 or 100 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Price at release $170 $0