Olympus 7010 vs Sony A850: A Tale of Two Cameras From Different Worlds

When you pit the Olympus Stylus 7010 compact against the venerable Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, you're not just looking at two cameras - you're peering into two distinct philosophies of photography separated by a chasm of sensor size, image quality ambitions, and user expectations. As someone who's spent countless hours in the field with gear ranging from pocket compacts to full-frame DSLRs, this comparison becomes not only fun but illuminating.

In the next few thousand words, I’ll walk you through an exhaustive hands-on evaluation of both cameras - the tiny Olympus pocket powerhouse from 2009 and Sony’s full-frame heavyweight from 2010. Spoiler alert: they serve different purposes, but understanding their strengths and limitations will help you or a client make a smarter purchasing decision.

Getting Comfortable: Size, Ergonomics, and Body Design

First impressions matter, and the Olympus Stylus 7010 is all about pocketability. At just 98×56×26 mm and 145 grams, it’s the ultimate grab-and-go compact - slipping easily into a jacket pocket or purse without you even noticing. This camera is built for casual everyday shooting, with a fixed lens and minimal physical controls. It's what I often call an “extended point-and-shoot.” No manual modes, no viewfinder, just simplicity.

On the other end of the spectrum stands the Sony A850, a full-size mid-frame DSLR built at 156×117×82 mm and tipping the scales at almost 900 grams. This camera demands a dedicated bag, promises more robust handling with a hefty grip, and vettes its presence by sheer bulk. It’s built for serious photographers who want full control over their images and are willing to lug the weight.

Comparing their ergonomics side-by-side in natural light (see above image), the complexity and intention become obvious. The Olympus is smooth, curvy, and easy on fingers but limits your control options due to its form factor. The Sony sports plenty of buttons - dedicated dials, exposure controls, a top display panel, and a robust tripod mount. It’s designed for purpose-driven operation and prolonged use.

Control Freaks vs Point-and-Shooters: Interface and Usability

I love the tactile feel of a camera’s buttons and dials, especially when shooting fast-paced environments like sports or wildlife. Examining the top view reveals Olympus’s “less is more” approach - no dedicated exposure compensation dial, no manual mode, no shutter-priority, nothing more demanding than an auto mode and a self-timer.

The Sony A850, with its mid-range DSLR heritage, boasts shutter/aperture priority, manual exposure, and exposure compensation options. There's dual card slots in the Sony for managing backups or overflow, something the Olympus completely lacks (single slot with support for microSD, xD cards, and internal memory). The Sony also offers multiple drive modes, including continuous shooting at 3 fps, which can be critical for action or wildlife shooters, whereas the Olympus has no continuous shooting at all.

Even the screen resolution echoes this divide - 2.7 inches and a mere 230k dots on the Olympus versus a much larger 3-inch 922k-dot TFT on the Sony, delivering a critical advantage when reviewing shots or navigating menus.

If you can’t see it clearly, you won’t shoot it well - and the Sony’s high-res screen pleasantly surprised me for a DSLR in this price tier. The fixed nature of both means you have to rely on your stance - no articulating monitors on either, a missed opportunity for live compositions at tricky angles.

The Olympus’s fixed lens zoom range (28-196mm equivalent) feels versatile for casual travel shots or family events, while Sony needs you to invest in lenses - which, with 143 choices, feels more like a blessing than a curse (provided you understand lenses).

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Here’s where the divide becomes tectonic.

Olympus 7010 employs a 1/2.3” CCD sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels and a sensor area of just under 28 mm². In contrast, the Sony A850 proudly sports a 24.6-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor measuring 35.9×24 mm, with a whopping 862 mm² of sensor area.

Having tested hundreds of cameras with similar sensor technology, the Sony's sensor outclasses Olympus in dynamic range, noise control in low light, depth rendition, and color fidelity by significant margins. The Sony’s DxO Mark score stands around 79 overall, with impressive color depth at 23.8 bits and dynamic range topping 12 stops at base ISO, whereas the Olympus wasn’t even tested by DxO due to its entry-level nature.

The big sensor translates into images with more natural skin tones, smoother gradations, and the ability to shoot in low-light conditions without the noise quickly degrading quality. Also, the full-frame gives you better control over depth of field - everything from creamy bokeh portraits to isolating wildlife subjects.

The Olympus’s CCD sensor and small size limit its ISO to a ceiling of 1600 native, with noise creeping in early. And to be honest, the images can feel “digital compact-y” with less color richness and the dreaded small sensor softening at longer zoom ends. Still, under bright daylight and in casual snapshot settings, it delivers pleasant results without fuss.

Olympus 7010 front Olympus 7010 screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

Real-World Samples: Who Wins the Pixel Battle?

I shot portraits, landscapes, and street scenes with both cameras to compare raw output and JPEGs side-by-side (see above). The Sony’s files displayed vastly superior detail and dynamic range. Portraits showcased more natural skin textures and smoother bokeh from prime lenses I used with it, while Olympus rendered acceptable but flat backgrounds, with digital artifacts visible in shadow areas.

For landscapes, Sony’s 25MP images allowed me to crop heavily without losing detail - a must for serious landscape shooters. Olympus required shooting at base ISO and bright conditions for best results, with limited latitude in post-processing.

Street photography showed the Olympus’s stealth and lightweight advantage. It doesn’t scream “professional” and feels less intimidating for candid interactions, but the image quality trade-off is clear versus Sony, which demands a bulkier setup but delivers far crisper images.

Not Just Pixels: Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Autofocus can make or break a shoot, especially outdoors and with moving subjects.

The Olympus 7010 features contrast-detection AF focusing with no phase-detection points and no face or eye detection. It means slower autofocus hunting, less accuracy in dimmer light, and limited tracking ability. For static subjects or selfies (though no selfie-friendly screen), it’s fine, but wildlife or sports are out of its league.

Sony A850 offers a 9-point phase-detection AF system optimized for accuracy rather than speed - if you needed rapid burst at 10fps, this wouldn’t be your pick - but 3 fps and accurate focusing fields with center weighting suit portraits, landscapes, and events just fine. Sony’s AF supports continuous AF and selective AF area modes, providing flexibility for pro users.

Neither camera offers face or eye-detection autofocus, which nowadays is standard on newer compacts or mirrorless cameras for portrait shooters. So in this regard, both feel a bit dated but differ significantly in AF responsiveness and reliability.

How Each Camera Performs Across Photography Genres

I plotted their relative strengths based on hands-on use and industry benchmarks.

• Portraits: Sony A850 dominates with large sensor, dynamic range, and RAW that allow nuanced skin tones and creamy bokeh. Olympus falls short with smaller sensor limiting depth control.

• Landscape: Sony offers high resolution, excellent dynamic range, and weather sealing, perfect for profession-grade landscapes. Olympus’s small sensor can’t match detail levels but offers decent casual landscape images.

• Wildlife: Sony edges out due to accurate autofocus and ability to use telephoto lenses on its mount. Olympus’s slow AF and limited zoom range hinder wildlife shooting severely.

• Sports: Sony’s 3 fps burst isn’t blazing fast but usable for slower sports; Olympus can only shoot single frames, making it unsuitable here.

• Street: Olympus bests Sony on discretion, portability, and less intrusive design - great for candid shots on the go.

• Macro: Olympus has a close focusing distance of 10cm, aided by optical image stabilization. Sony depends on lens choice here but can focus closer with macro lenses, though it’s heavier and less flexible on the fly.

• Night/Astro: Sony’s impressive high ISO capabilities and better sensor physics produce clean night images. Olympus’s sensor noise and poor low light auto focus limit astro opportunities.

• Video: Olympus supports basic 640x480 motion JPEG video at 30fps - quite limited. Sony lacks video capabilities entirely, so neither satisfies modern video needs.

• Travel: Olympus’s small form factor, lightweight, and zoom cover a wide range easily. Sony’s size and weight plus the need for multiple lenses make it more cumbersome for minimalist travel.

• Professional Work: Sony’s RAW support, dual card slots, weather sealing, and robust build are designed for professional workflows; Olympus is a casual snapshot camera with no RAW and limited connectivity.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

The Sony A850 features partial weather sealing - a big plus for those shooting outdoors in unpredictable conditions. Its rugged magnesium alloy body stands up well to demanding use. The Olympus, designed for casual users, lacks any environmental sealing and uses plastic construction, making it vulnerable to dust and moisture.

This gap is critical if you shoot in challenging environments often. Durability is part of the professional package, making Sony a more dependable long-term investment for serious photographers.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

With nearly 143 lenses available for Sony’s A-mount system, ranging from affordable primes to high-end ultra-telephotos and specialized tilt-shift lenses, the A850 benefits from abundant options developed over decades.

Olympus’s fixed lens on the 7010 (28-196mm equivalent, f/3.0-5.9) is convenient but limiting. You’re restricted to that zoom range and aperture, with no way to swap lenses or use adapters. Therefore, creative control and optical quality are bottlenecked by this single lens.

If you aim to grow your photography skills and diversify focal lengths, the Sony’s lens ecosystem is a compelling reason to choose it.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Sony’s A850 outshines in battery performance, rated at around 880 shots per charge (CIPA standard), letting you shoot longer sessions without changing batteries. Olympus uses a proprietary LI-42B battery, with unspecified official life, but compact cameras typically average 200-300 shots per charge, making them less reliable for full-day excursions.

Storage-wise, Sony’s dual slots, supporting CF cards and Memory Stick Duo variants, offer flexibility and peace of mind through backups. Olympus’s single slot for microSD and xD cards limits expansion and backup options, plus internal storage is minuscule.

Connectivity and Modern Conveniences

Neither camera has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - unsurprising given their release dates (2009 and 2010). Sony has HDMI output for tethered viewing or playback on large screens; Olympus lacks any HDMI but offers only USB 2.0 for data transfer.

If modern connectivity is critical (sharing immediately, tethering), both fall short by today’s standards but Sony edges out slightly with HDMI.

Value for Money: What Do You Get?

At an ask price around $200 for the Olympus 7010, it’s an affordable point-and-shoot designed for casual users who value pocketability over quality. It can serve as a backup, travel snapper, or gift camera but has limited future-proofing.

The Sony A850, discontinued yet still sought after on the used market, can range widely in price but typically represents an affordable entry point into full-frame DSLR territory, delivering professional-grade files. Its higher initial investing cost balances through superior image quality, lens options, and durability.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• If you want simple, light, easy, and a camera that fits in your pocket for snapshots, occasional travel, or quick social shooting with no fuss, the Olympus 7010 offers solid, user-friendly performance at a bargain. Just know it’s not designed for low light, video, or serious creative control.

• If you demand top-tier image quality, plan to grow in photography, want versatility in lenses, or will work in varied professional contexts like portrait studios, landscapes, or nature, the Sony A850 remains a potent, though bulky, champion. It grants access to a full-frame sensor, manual controls, and rugged reliability.

Seasoned photographers or serious enthusiasts will lean strongly towards Sony for its quality and flexibility. Beginners or casual shooters seeking a lightweight companion may find Olympus a nice budget entry but should temper expectations.

This hands-on comparison between Olympus’s lightweight compact and Sony’s full-frame DSLR underscores how far camera design diverges depending on target users. By unpacking sensor tech, ergonomics, autofocus, and usability, I've tried to give you more than the spec sheet - you get a sense of how these cameras fit differently in the creative journey.

Whether you prize portability or image quality, both cameras tell compelling stories in their own right. I encourage you to reflect on your photographic priorities and workflow needs before committing.

Happy shooting!

Images used courtesy of detailed hands-on reviews and product photos, arranged to illustrate the nuanced contrasts between these two photographic worlds.