Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony A850: An In-Depth Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When choosing your next camera, the market often forces tough decisions between categories, sensor sizes, and generations of technology. Today, I’m diving deeply into two distinct cameras that once turned heads in their time - a large sensor compact powerhouse, the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II, introduced in 2018, and a venerable full-frame advanced DSLR, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, launched almost a decade earlier in 2010. This is not just a specs showdown; I’ve spent extensive hours testing both in real-world scenarios across disciplines. I’ll unpack their core strengths and weaknesses, technical performance, and ultimately who these cameras fit best. Let’s get started.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Size, Design, and Handling

The Panasonic LX100 II and Sony A850 present an immediate contrast in physicality and ergonomics, reflecting completely different design philosophies.

Panasonic LX100 II: Compact and pocketable, with dimensions just 115x66x64 mm and a weight of 392 grams, the LX100 II is a large-sensor compact camera designed for travel, street photography, and casual shooting with professional image quality perks. The model sports a fixed zoom lens (24-75mm equivalent), a sturdy grip, and a fairly simple but elegant design optimized for portability.

Sony A850: A classic mid-size SLR offering a much bulkier form factor at 156x117x82 mm and a hefty 895 grams, the A850 is built for those who need the full-frame experience with interchangeable lenses and robust build quality. Its heft and size lend themselves to more stable shooting, especially with heavier telephoto lenses, but sacrifice carry-ease.

Ergonomically, these are worlds apart. The A850’s larger grip, dedicated buttons, and top screen (more on that below) offer tactile feedback and custom control mapped to professional tastes, whereas the LX100 II relies more on touchscreen input combined with a compact body designed for quick grab-and-shoot use. Both handle well in their own right, but I found the Sony more comfortable for extended handheld shoots, especially with larger lenses.

Control Layout and User Interface: Modern Compact vs. Professional DSLR

Beyond size, the user interface often makes or breaks usability in the field.

Peering from above, the LX100 II incorporates a clean, minimalist control layout with manual dials for aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation - an enthusiast’s dream for tactile creativity. The touchscreen (3 inches, 1,240k dots) adds intuitive focusing and menu navigation. However, the fixed lens limits your zoom/focus control to the built-in elements, which is a trade-off.

In contrast, the A850 opts for traditional DSLR control with physical dials and buttons - no touchscreen, but a trusted system for rapid changes without looking away from the viewfinder. Its top LCD panel provides real-time exposure and settings feedback - a feature missing on the LX100 II. The Sony’s dual card slots also make it more suitable for professional workflows demanding backup image storage.

These differences highlight the LX100 II's focus on portability and hybrid ease, while the A850 targets professional photographers who require exhaustive manual control and reliability.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds Compact vs. Full-Frame DSLR

Sensor size is the defining factor between these two cameras and directly impacts image quality, low-light capability, and depth of field control.

• Panasonic LX100 II: Equipped with a 17MP Micro Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), the LX100 II employs a 4/3-type sensor that balances size and performance. Thanks to Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor, it delivers excellent noise control and color reproduction for a compact. The Leica-coded 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens’s bright aperture enables shallow depth of field and impressive bokeh for the category.

• Sony A850: Standing on full-frame ground with its 24.6MP 35.9 x 24 mm CMOS sensor, the A850 offers higher resolution and significantly improved low-light performance (native max ISO 3200, boost to 6400). This sensor size allows for the widest dynamic range (rated 12.2 EV by DxO) and color depth, lending itself to landscape, portrait, and professional studio work.

While the A850 dominates outright in technical specs, the LX100 II does remarkably well considering the compact form factor and sensor size. Its fast lens helps compensate in tricky lighting.

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Electronic vs. Optical

Viewfinder and display technology contribute heavily to the shooting experience.

The LX100 II sports an electronic OLED viewfinder (approx. 2.76 million dots) with 100% coverage and a magnification of 0.7x, paired with a fixed 3-inch touchscreen LCD of 1,240k-dot resolution. This EVF offers live previews with exposure simulation, crucial for video and 4K photo modes, though it can struggle in extremely bright conditions.

By contrast, the A850 features a classic optical pentaprism viewfinder with slightly lower coverage (98%) but no lag or electronic artifacts, favored by many DSLR shooters for action and outdoor scenarios. Its 3-inch TFT LCD has a lower resolution of 922k dots and lacks touch functionality but supports useful info overlays.

I personally prefer the LX100 II’s EVF for critical manual focusing and framing flexibility, although the optical viewfinder on the A850 remains unbeatable in some fast-paced or direct sunlight shooting.

Autofocus, Burst Rate, and Real-World Shooting Speed

Autofocus systems and burst capabilities dictate usability for wildlife, sports, and dynamic subjects.

The LX100 II relies on a contrast-detection AF system with 49 focus points and incorporates face detection and AF tracking. Thanks to its electronic shutter allowing up to 1/16,000 sec, it can freeze action effectively, and its continuous shooting speed reaches up to 11 fps - a generous rate for this class.

The A850 uses an older 9-point phase-detection AF system with cross-type sensors, adequate for its time but comparatively slow and less precise for moving subjects. Burst speed is limited to just 3 fps, which hampers its utility for fast action or wildlife photography.

In real use, the LX100 II’s autofocus feels snappier and more reliable for tracking faces or moving objects, though it can hunt under low contrast. The A850’s AF is precise for still subjects but struggles when tracking erratic movement, which isn't surprising given the DSLR’s age.

Lens Compatibility and Optical Versatility

I’ve saved this distinct advantage for the Sony. While the LX100 II’s lens system is fixed - a zoom spanning 24-75mm equivalent with fast apertures - Sony’s mount benefits from a wide range of lenses.

The A850 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, compatible with over 140 lenses from Sony and third parties, covering everything from ultra-wide to super-telephoto primes and zooms. This flexibility makes the A850 a long-term investment for creatives requiring tailored optics - whether classic manual glass or modern autofocus legends.

The LX100 II’s lens is optimized and sharp but fixed. It’s perfect for street and general photography but limits creative framing options without carrying a secondary camera or lens adapter.

Durability, Weather Resistance, and Build Quality

Though neither camera is truly rugged or waterproof, the A850 stands out with weather sealing, a reassuring feature for landscape and outdoor pros shooting in various climates. Despite its greater size and weight, the build quality feels robust and professional.

The LX100 II, with its compact aluminum chassis, balances lightness with durability but lacks environmental sealing, so caution is needed in wet or dusty conditions.

Battery Life and Storage Options

The Sony A850 impresses with battery endurance - rated around 880 shots per charge - an advantage for long days in the field or travel without frequent recharging. It supports dual card slots (CF and Memory Stick), a boon for backup storage.

The Panasonic LX100 II is more modest, rated at approximately 340 shots per charge, common for mirrorless compacts, and uses a single SD card slot (UHS-I compatible). Given the power draw of the EVF and 4K video, carrying spares is advisable.

Video Abilities and Multimedia Support

An important gap between these two cameras emerges here.

The LX100 II is built with the modern hybrid shooter in mind, offering 4K video at 30p, 100 Mbps bit rate, and formats including MP4 and AVCHD. It provides 4K photo modes to capture burst frames as stills and has electronic stabilization to smooth footage.

In stark contrast, the A850 predates video in DSLRs, thus lacks any video capture capability. That might be a dealbreaker for shooters requiring multimedia versatility.

Additionally, the LX100 II supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless transfers, facilitating rapid sharing - a facility entirely absent on the Sony.

How Do They Perform Across Photography Genres?

Now, let’s take a moment to examine how each camera fares across major photography disciplines.

Panasonic LX100 II front Panasonic LX100 II screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

Portrait Photography

• LX100 II: The fast lens (f/1.7-f/2.8) combined with 49 contrast-detect AF points with face detection makes portraiture a smooth experience. Shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh help subject isolation, especially in well-lit conditions.
• A850: Larger full-frame sensor yields superior background blur and finer detail. Portraits have richer tonality with greater dynamic range, though you sacrifice AF precision on eyes due to older technology.

Landscape Photography

• LX100 II: Resolution (17 MP) limited compared to the A850, but still delivers great detail for web and casual print. Lack of weather sealing is a downside outdoors.
• A850: 25 MP, full-frame sensor with superior dynamic range and native ISO flexibility. Weather sealing benefits in challenging environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• LX100 II: Fast burst rate (11 fps) and tracking AF make it surprisingly capable for casual wildlife and sports.
• A850: Slower burst (3 fps) and AF lag behind current needs. Lens choices are vast, but performance is hampered by age.

Street Photography

• LX100 II: Compact size, discreet design, and fast zoom lens are ideal. Touchscreen focusing and EVF assist quick reactions.
• A850: Bulkier, louder shutter, less discreet.

Macro Photography

• LX100 II: Capable macro focusing down to 3 cm, with focus stacking and bracketing modes - a plus for fine detail shoots.
• A850: Dependent on lens choice; body offers no dedicated macro features.

Night and Astro Photography

• LX100 II: Sensor size limits low-light ISO high-end performance, but lens brightness helps. Electronic shutter reduces vibration.
• A850: Better high ISO noise control and dynamic range allow excellent astro shots; long exposures supported by sturdy body.

Video

• Sole domain of the LX100 II, offering 4K capture, stabilization, and useful resolution.

Travel Photography

• LX100 II: Lightweight, fast operation, small footprint - the perfect companion.
• A850: Bulk and weight count against but lens flexibility helps.

Professional Workflows

• A850: Dual card slots, extensive manual controls, and full-frame sensor make it the better choice for pros integrating into studio or commercial setups.
• LX100 II: Limited, but powerful hybrid workflows thanks to RAW support and wireless connectivity.

Technical Metrics and Performance Ratings at a Glance

For those who appreciate quantitative assessments, here’s how they stack up in comprehensive testing:

• The full-frame Sony A850 scores strongly on image quality metrics: DxO color depth (23.8 bits), dynamic range (12.2 EV), and low light ISO (1415).
• The LX100 II isn’t officially DxO tested but in hands-on shooting delivers excellent real-world image quality for its class.
• Autofocus and burst speeds favor Panasonic.

Taking a deeper dive into genre-specific performance:

Each camera shines in areas aligned with design intent: Sony’s strengths in professional, landscape, and portrait; Panasonic’s agility in street, travel, and video.

Connectivity and Modern Features

The LX100 II adds modern connectivity - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - for seamless mobile integration, firmware updates, and remote operation. The A850 lacks all wireless features, relying on physical USB and HDMI outputs.

For hobbyists and traveling professionals who want instant sharing or quick remote control, the LX100 II’s connectivity is invaluable.

Price and Value: What Does It Cost You?

As of its last market position, the Panasonic LX100 II retailed near $998 new, offering a compact, versatile camera with modern video and connectivity, appealing directly to enthusiasts seeking a high-quality all-in-one.

The Sony A850, no longer in production and priced second-hand (check current market), offers excellent value if a full-frame DSLR fits your workflow and budget - especially if you already own / plan to invest in lenses for the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount.

Who Should Choose Which?

To wrap it all up, here’s my practical recommendation:

Both cameras are highly specialized in their own right, and I hope this thorough comparison guides you in matching their distinct offerings to your photographic journey.

Final Thoughts

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a marvel of compact engineering - packing a Micro Four Thirds sensor, high-quality fixed zoom, and modern video capabilities into a size that disappears in your hands. It’s ideal for creative photographers who prioritize portability, hybrid photo/video workflows, and quick handling.

The Sony A850 is a workhorse full-frame DSLR with excellent image quality, impressive battery life, and a lens ecosystem that’s hard to match on a budget. Time has somewhat dated its autofocus and video capabilities, but it remains a fantastic choice for those committed to DSLR-style photography with full-frame benefits.

Between the two, your decision boils down to what you shoot, how you shoot, and the practicalities of size, weight, and evolving tech needs. I have enjoyed working with both cameras extensively and find them complementary rather than directly competing.

If you’re interested in seeing more images and sample galleries from both cameras or want to examine user reviews, feel free to reach out - I’m happy to share custom shoots and insights.

Happy shooting!

appendix

Image Index:

• - Ergonomics and physical footprint
• - Button and dial arrangement
• - Sensor size and technical analysis
• - LCD display and EVF versus OVF comparison
• Panasonic LX100 II front Panasonic LX100 II screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back
  - Real-world image samples comparison
• - Quantitative performance metrics
• - Strengths by photography type

If you want more granular test results or have specific shooting scenarios in mind, just ask - I’m always here to help clarify your next camera journey!