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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A850, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) have different sensor size.

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The SZ-10 was announced 10 months after the A850 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-10 grades against the A850 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony A850

 SZ-10 A850 
ReleasedFebruary 2011April 2010More modern by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus SZ-10

 A850 SZ-10 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A850

 SZ-10 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-10 has got outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A850 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-10 versus the A850.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and A850.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-10 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A850 will offer more detail with its extra 11MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern SZ-10 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography information
Sony A850 Portrait photography information
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
focusing manually
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography features
Sony A850 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography info
Sony A850 Sports photography info
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Sony A850
65
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
55
weather proof
resolution is high (25MP)
missing Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
40
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging info
Sony A850 Vlogging info
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (215g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
9
no video
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A850
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-02-08 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 photographs 880 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 2
Retail pricing $300 $0