Panasonic Lumix S1R vs. Sony Alpha A850: A Deep Dive Into Two Full-Frame Giants

Comparing a modern high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera like the Panasonic Lumix S1R with a classic, decade-old Sony Alpha A850 DSLR might sound like pitting two eras against each other. But for photography enthusiasts and professionals weighing their options, understanding how these two bodies - both full-frame but worlds apart in features, technology, and approach - perform under various real-world conditions is invaluable. Having tested both extensively, I’m here to guide you through the strengths, limitations, and practical applications that define each. This comparison goes well beyond spec sheets, offering you actionable insights to help narrow down which camera fits your photography style, budget, and workflow.

Let’s begin with the basics before diving into how these cameras perform across key photography genres.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Holding the Right Tool Matters

When you first pick up a camera, the feel in your hands starts building a relationship that influences every shot.

The Panasonic S1R is a substantial beast at 1020 grams with dimensions of 149x110x97 mm - a robust, SLR-style mirrorless design catering to those who prefer solid grip and extensive button customization. The S1R uses Panasonic’s Leica L mount, and the lens ecosystem here, while smaller than Sony’s, is growing steadily. I found the S1R’s magnesium alloy body to feel reassuringly rugged, complemented by environmental sealing, an important feature for landscape or travel shooters who encounter varying weather.

On the other hand, the Sony A850 weighs slightly less at 895 grams but is bulkier in width and height (156x117x82 mm), embodying the typical mid-sized DSLR heft of its era. Its build is more traditional with a pentaprism optical viewfinder, and it too features weather sealing. Ergonomically, the S1R’s contouring and textured grip extent hold a slight edge for prolonged shooting sessions, while the Sony’s fixed screen and button layout feel dated and less ergonomic for today’s standards.

A more tactile and better laid out control scheme can vastly improve shooting efficiency, especially in demanding environments - the Panasonic handles that with greater modern comfort.

Control Layout and Interface: Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Right Dials

For photographers who prefer manual control and quick adjustments mid-shoot, the control layout is a silent partner.

Looking from above, the S1R offers a clean and intuitive layout housing an illuminated button array, dual control dials, and a top info LCD panel. These features allow you to see and change settings without relying solely on the rear LCD, which is tilt-and-touch-enabled for focus and menu browsing. This flexibility particularly shines in fast-paced shooting environments, where toggling quickly between aperture, shutter, and ISO is routine.

Conversely, the Sony A850’s top panel is more traditional with fewer dedicated controls - a common trait for DSLRs of the early 2010s. The A850 relies on a fixed non-touch LCD and no dedicated top info screen, meaning you often need to take your eye away from the optical viewfinder to adjust settings - slowing down your workflow.

So if you value an efficient, customizable control environment, especially if you photograph events or wildlife where speed matters, the S1R takes a clear lead here.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Pixel Power and Dynamic Range

Now to the heart of image quality - what separates the pictures you take on the wall from those relegated to thumbnails.

Both cameras feature full-frame CMOS sensors nearly identical in physical size (Panasonic: 36x24 mm, Sony: 35.9x24 mm). But that’s where similarity ends.

The Panasonic S1R sports a 47-megapixel sensor devoid of an optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter, offering maximum detail - a boon for landscape photographers and commercial shooters who regularly print large-format work. The DxOMark scores reflect this: the S1R scores a stellar 100 overall with a color depth of 26.4 bits, dynamic range reaching 14.1 EV, and far superior low-light performance with a usable ISO up to roughly 3525 before noise overwhelms.

In contrast, the Sony A850’s older 25MP sensor includes an anti-aliasing filter, which reduces moiré and false color but softens detail slightly - still respectable in its time but showing its age today. Its DxOMark score is a modest 79 overall, color depth 23.8 bits, dynamic range 12.2 EV, with ISO performance capped at around 1415, after which noise becomes distracting. Without video capability or advanced noise-reduction processing, images from the A850 might struggle in low light compared to the Panasonic.

For landscape and studio portrait shooters where detail and tonal range matter the most, the Panasonic’s sensor clearly pushes the envelope further forward.

Viewing and Composing: Electronic vs. Optical Viewfinder and Screen Innovation

How you see your subject defines the shooting experience more than most realize.

The Panasonic S1R offers a high-res 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.78x magnification. The EVF delivers a clear, accurate preview including exposure, white balance, and even focus peaking live - critical feedback for modern mirrorless shooting.

The touchscreen LCD is tiltable, measuring 3.2 inches at 2.1 million dots, and offers intuitive tap-to-focus and menu navigation. It’s a giant leap up in usability and interface clarity.

Sony’s A850 sticks to its era’s gold standard: a pentaprism optical viewfinder with approximately 98% coverage and 0.74x magnification. While optical viewfinders provide life-like real-world scenes and zero lag, they lack the exposure preview advantages EVFs provide. Additionally, its fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with a relatively low 922k-dot resolution offers limited utility beyond image review, with no touch input or live preview.

For modern workflows, especially in tricky lighting like backlit situations, I personally prefer the Panasonic S1R’s EVF and touchscreen combo - it simply lets you see what you get.

Autofocus and Speed: Hunting the Perfect Moment

Autofocus systems have evolved dramatically, becoming the deciding factor for many photographers, especially in sports, wildlife, and event photography.

The Panasonic S1R features a hybrid contrast-detection system with 225 focus points covering a broad area, and face detection. It offers continuous autofocus (AF-C), eye detect autofocus, and focus tracking modes that are responsive and accurate for static and moving subjects alike. Although it lacks phase-detection AF - typical for mirrorless cameras from 2019 - it compensates impressively with processing power.

Continuous burst shooting clocks in at 9 fps with autofocus locked, which is sufficient for many action scenarios but not ultra-high speed sports shooting.

The Sony A850 uses a traditional phase-detection autofocus system with 9 AF points. While accurate, 9 points is minimal by today’s standards and lacks features such as eye detection or advanced subject tracking, which limits performance in fast action or wildlife scenarios. Its maximum continuous shooting speed is 3 fps, which feels sluggish when shooting fast-moving subjects or decisive moments.

For sports and wildlife, the S1R is undeniably the better choice due to modern autofocus sophistication and faster shooting rates - even if it’s not specialized for extreme burst rates.

Focusing Aids: Focus Stacking and Bracketing for Macro and Studio Precision

If you’re into macro or product photography, precise focusing tools and stacking methods are crucial.

Panasonic’s S1R includes intelligent focus bracketing and focus stacking capabilities, which let you shoot multiple frames with varied focus points that you combine in post for extended depth of field - a necessity in macro and technical genres. It also supports post-focus, enabling touch-to-select focus points on the touchscreen after capture.

Unfortunately, the Sony A850 lacks these focus bracketing or stacking functions, limiting macro photographers to traditional techniques.

Thus, the Panasonic S1R’s focus aids provide added versatility for detail-critical work.

Video Capabilities: From Stills to Motion

If video is a consideration, these two cameras couldn’t be more different.

The Panasonic S1R offers 4K UHD video recording at 60p in MOV format with H.264 compression and 150 Mbps bitrate. It also supports high-quality Linear PCM audio and provides microphone and headphone ports for precise sound monitoring - a boon for videographers and hybrid shooters.

The Sony A850 does not record video at all. Its design was fixed in the era before still/video hybrids were expected.

If you want a camera that shoots excellent stills and video, the Panasonic S1R wins hands down.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power on the Go

Battery and storage choices impact how freely you shoot without running out of juice or media.

The Sony A850, with its older design, impresses with an official 880-shot battery rating per charge - ideal for long sessions away from power. It supports dual card slots for Compact Flash and Memory Stick Duo, giving flexible storage options.

The Panasonic S1R officially manages around 360 shots per charge, which is lower but still practical, especially considering USB-C charging compatibility, letting you top up from portable power banks in the field.

Storage-wise, Panasonic uses dual SD UHS-II card slots - modern and speedy, but smaller capacity per card compared to Compact Flash. However, SD card ubiquity makes them more convenient and affordable.

Depending on your shooting style (e.g., all-day tethered studio shoots vs. travel expeditions), these differences are worth factoring.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless and Usability Perks

Modern connectivity can enhance workflow, especially for tethered shooting and image transfer.

Panasonic’s S1R includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling quick pairing with smartphones or tablets for remote control, image sharing, or firmware updates. It allows USB charging and tethered shooting via USB-C. The illuminated buttons make it easier to shoot in dim environments.

The Sony A850 has no wireless capabilities and relies on USB 2.0 for data transfer, which is slower, with no remote shooting options via mobile.

Connectivity convenience is increasingly important, and Panasonic’s latest features give it an edge here.

Toughness and Weather Sealing: Ready for the Elements?

Both cameras have some degree of environmental sealing against dust and moisture but are not fully waterproof or shockproof.

The Panasonic S1R’s newer engineering offers arguably more robust sealing with better gripping surfaces for sweaty or wet hands encountered during outdoor work.

The Sony A850 has weather sealing but feels bulkier and less ergonomic to handle in adverse conditions.

For rugged landscape, adventure, or travel photography, Panasonic’s S1R arguably offers better reliability.

Practical Real-World Photography Use Cases

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The S1R’s high-resolution sensor shines in capturing exquisite detail and smooth tonal gradations, particularly flattering when rendering skin textures under studio or natural lighting. Its eye-detection autofocus (while not as advanced as some competitors) aids in maintaining sharpness on the subject.

The Sony A850 produces excellent color but lower resolution means less fine detail for high-end portrait retouching. Its AF system lacks eye detection, requiring more manual focus finesse.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Resistance

Here, the Panasonic’s superior dynamic range and high resolution provide exceptional capture of subtle tonal shifts and large-scale detail critical for fine art or commercial landscapes. The tilting LCD assists composing shots from challenging angles.

Sony A850 is capable but can’t match modern sensor performance or handling ease.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rate

With a 9 fps burst shooting rate and intelligent AF tracking, the S1R is better suited to wildlife and some sports photography. Still, for high-speed action (football, motorsports), both fall short of specialized sports cameras.

Sony’s slower 3 fps and limited AF points restrict its use mostly to static or slow wildlife.

Street Photography: Discreetness and Portability

The Sony A850, despite being bulky, may seem less intimidating as a DSLR, but the Panasonic S1R’s mirrorless design allows quieter electronic shutter speeds up to 1/16000s for discreet capture. The S1R feels heavier but its silent shutter is a boon for candid street scenes.

Macro: Magnification and Stacking

Panasonic’s focus stacking tools make macro work much easier and more precise. Sony’s lack of such features requires traditional and time-consuming focus methods.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Controls

High ISO capabilities with clean images favor the Panasonic S1R heavily. Its ISO 25600 base with extended to 51200 and superior noise control help astrophotographers capture faint stars with clarity. The Sony’s ceiling at 3200 ISO hinders similar low-light performance.

Video and Hybrid Shooters

Panasonic S1R delivers capable 4K video, plus audio interfaces - making it a flexible tool for professionals needing both stills and video from one body.

Sony A850 doesn’t provide video options, limiting its appeal for multimedia content creators.

Travel Photography: Battery Life vs Versatility

Sony A850’s longer battery life is a practical advantage for extended trips without charging options. However, the Panasonic’s 5-axis in-body stabilization and focus features offer wider versatility.

Sample Image Quality: You Really Need to See to Believe

Panasonic S1R front Panasonic S1R screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

Looking at these side-by-side images from studio portraits, landscapes, and wildlife, the Panasonic S1R’s files show markedly finer detail, richer dynamic range, and smoother transition of colors, especially in highlights and shadows. The Sony A850 yields pleasing images but with visibly less resolution and lower overall richness.

Performance Scores and Genre Breakdown

The Panasonic Lumix S1R rates near the top of its class, boasting exceptional sensor output and versatile features. The Sony Alpha A850, while commendable for its generation, scores significantly lower - mostly reflecting dated technology rather than poor execution.

This genre-specific chart confirms what we’ve discussed: Panasonic dominates in landscape, portrait, macro, and low-light, while Sony remains reasonably competitive in still life and basic portrait work. For video, Panasonic is clearly superior.

Price and Value: What Are You Willing to Invest?

The Panasonic S1R commands a premium, and its price around $3700 may feel steep, but it reflects the cutting-edge sensor, build quality, and feature set.

The Sony A850 is essentially obsolete in new retail terms but finds life on used markets at bargain prices, making it suitable for budgets focused strictly on full-frame stills without modern demands.

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose What?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix S1R if:

• You prioritize ultra-high resolution and superior image quality for landscapes, portraits, or commercial work.
• You need modern autofocus, video capabilities, and more advanced ergonomics.
• You work in diverse conditions demanding weather sealing and electronic shutter flexibility.
• You want future-proof features like 4K video, focus stacking, and wireless connectivity.
• Your budget can stretch into the premium segment.

Choose the Sony Alpha A850 if:

• You want a full-frame DSLR experience with solid image quality that still holds up for basic professional uses.
• You shoot primarily stills and don’t require video or advanced autofocus.
• You prefer a traditional optical viewfinder and longer battery life in a DSLR form.
• You operate on a limited budget and can find a well-maintained used body.
• You are comfortable working within the limitations of slower AF, fixed screens, and older connectivity.

Closing Thoughts: Perspective from My Experience

Having spent countless hours shooting with both cameras, I appreciate the Sony A850’s robustness and classic DSLR feel - nostalgia included. But when I switch to the Panasonic S1R, I experience the future of professional imaging: speed, resolution, and flexibility wrapped in a more portable mirrorless package.

If you’re upgrading from older DSLRs and want a machine built for today’s creative demands, the S1R is well worth the investment. Conversely, the Sony A850 serves admirably as a learning or entry-level full-frame option but will likely leave you wanting more as your skills and expectations grow.

Personally, I prefer the S1R for most serious work owing to its image quality and versatility, though I still admire what the A850 represents - the genesis of full-frame accessibility.

Photography gear choices are deeply personal, crossing technical specs and emotional harmony with your shooting style. Hopefully, this extensive comparison paints a clear, honest picture to help you make that confident decision.

Happy shooting!