Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A850

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-11 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-11 was announced 16 months later than the A850 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-11 matches up vs the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-11 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-11 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-11 comes with outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A850 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-11 against the A850.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and A850 is 89 and 54 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-11 and A850.

All in all, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-11 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony A850 will resolve extra detail with its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-11 will have a benefit in sensor tech.