Nikon D100 vs Sony A850
58 Imaging
42 Features
33 Overall
38


54 Imaging
67 Features
60 Overall
64
Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon D100 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The full galleries are available at Nikon D100 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D100 over the Sony A850
D100 | A850 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Nikon D100
A850 | D100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | April 2010 | ![]() | July 2002 | Newer by 94 months |
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 1.8" | Bigger screen (+1.2") |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 118k | Sharper screen (+804k dot) |
Common features in the Nikon D100 and Sony A850
D100 | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D100 vs Sony A850 Specifications
Nikon D100 | Sony 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 |