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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Additionally Known as X-925
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced April 2010
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A850, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FE-4000 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The FE-4000 was introduced 8 months earlier than the A850 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the FE-4000 scores versus the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Sony A850

 FE-4000 A850 

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus FE-4000

 A850 FE-4000 
AnnouncedApril 2010July 2009More modern by 8 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A850

 FE-4000 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus FE-4000 provides outside measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Examine the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FE-4000 against the A850.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and A850 is 95 and 54 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The image underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4000 and A850.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FE-4000 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will offer more detail using its extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The more aged FE-4000 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Portrait photography details
Sony A850 Portrait photography details
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count great (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
55
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-4000
Sports photography with Sony A850
17
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
62
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
55
environment proof
MP count great (25MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
28
pretty wide (26mm)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
no liveview feature
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Vlogging details
Sony A850 Vlogging details
28
pretty wide (26mm)
lighter than competition in class (136g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A850
 Olympus FE-4000Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-4000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Also Known as X-925 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-07-22 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 895 gr (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One Two
Launch price $130 $0