Samsung HZ10W vs Sony A850: A Thorough Comparison From Compact to Full-Frame DSLR

In the landscape of digital cameras, it’s rare to see a comparison spanning vastly different categories yet serving as an eye-opener to what photographic technology offers across budgets, sensor sizes, and intended uses. Today, we’re pitting the 2009-era Samsung HZ10W compact against the 2010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 full-frame mid-level DSLR. This isn’t just a specs mismatch; it’s a real-world study in how sensor technology, build, and ergonomic design cater to different photographic ambitions.

Having tested thousands of cameras through my career as a photography reviewer, I want to guide you through this diverse pairing by unpacking the technical details and sharing practical impressions to help you identify which camera fits your shooting style and priorities.

Size and Ergonomics: Pocketable Versus Handheld Powerhouse

Physically, these cameras couldn't be more different. The Samsung HZ10W is a pocket-friendly compact measuring just 105 x 61 x 37 mm and weighing around 249 grams. It’s designed for grab-and-go photography with a fixed, versatile 24-240mm equivalent zoom lens. In contrast, the Sony A850 is a substantial mid-size SLR clocking in at 156 x 117 x 82 mm and weighing a hefty 895 grams without a lens, emphasizing robust handling and system expandability.

This size disparity translates directly into how they feel in hand. The HZ10W’s slim profile makes it unobtrusive and innately travel-friendly, but also imposes restrictions on manual controls and battery capacity. The A850, by virtue of its DSLR form factor, offers substantial grip comfort, robust button placements, and dual card slots - a feature pro shooters often rely on for peace of mind.

Ergonomically, the A850 benefits from Sony's thoughtful physical controls layout, including a top LCD panel and customizable dials that accelerate shooting workflows - a boon when you’re working fast on assignments or in varied conditions. The HZ10W sacrifices this for simplicity and size, with a fixed rear 2.7” 230k-dot fixed LCD screen and no viewfinder.

For photographers who appreciate tactile feedback and dedicated exposure settings, the A850 is in an entirely different league, catering to professionals and serious enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the HZ10W remains a no-fuss point-and-shoot appeal, ideal for casual use or beginner experimentation.

Sensors and Image Quality: Compact Cheats and Full-Frame Excellence

When we move from body design to sensor tech, the gulf widens further. The Samsung HZ10W uses a typical small 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.7 mm² sensor area) with 10 megapixels resolution. This translates to limited light-gathering ability, impact on noise performance, and dynamic range.

Sony’s A850, on the other hand, boasts a full-frame 35.9 x 24 mm CMOS sensor with a 24.6 megapixels resolution, resulting in a massive 861.6 mm² sensor area - over 30 times larger than the HZ10W’s sensor. This sensor size advantage is the primary driver for superior image quality, richer tonal gradation, better low-light performance, and higher potential detail - cornerstones of professional photography.

In practical terms, shooting landscapes or portraits with the A850 yields files that support large prints, aggressive cropping, and nuanced editing thanks to a wider tonal latitude. The HZ10W’s sensor limits it more to smaller prints and JPEG-only outputs, as it doesn’t support RAW capture.

Sony also brings advanced anti-aliasing filters and high-performing Bionz image processing that seamlessly handle noise reduction and color reproduction. Samsung’s older CCD sensor and less sophisticated processing show their age, especially in lower light scenarios where noise elevates quickly past ISO 400.

Handling Autofocus and Focusing Systems

Autofocus is where capability meets speed in everyday shooting. The Samsung HZ10W offers contrast-detection AF with basic face detection and center-only single AF with no continuous or tracking autofocus modes. Expect slower lock times, especially in low contrast or moving subjects.

Sony equips the A850 with a more advanced phase-detection AF system featuring 9 focus points, including selectable autofocus areas. While not blistering by today’s standards, it’s capable of steady single and continuous AF, suitable for portraits or moderately paced wildlife and sports photography.

Neither camera has animal eye detection or focus bracketing, but the A850’s phase-detection AF and manual focus override are suitable for critical focus, especially when paired with quality lenses.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

A crucial factor for travel and professional use is how the camera holds up in diverse conditions. The Sony A850 boasts partial weather-sealing which protects against dust and moisture - a feature rare in this price bracket and era. This reliability is vital for outdoor photographers venturing into rugged terrain or unpredictable weather.

The Samsung HZ10W, true to its compact nature and budget positioning, lacks any environmental sealing or rugged features. Its plastic construction and exposed controls make it less ideal for harsh conditions.

Interface: LCD Screen and Viewfinder Experience

The Samsung HZ10W relies solely on its 2.7-inch, fixed LCD with 230k pixel resolution for composition and menu navigation, lacking both an optical or electronic viewfinder. This is common in compacts but limits visibility in bright daylight and may be uncomfortable for extended use.

Sony, conversely, features a 3-inch “Xtra Fine” TFT LCD with 922k pixels, delivering crisp, bright previews and menu navigation. Plus, it incorporates a pentaprism optical viewfinder with 98% coverage and 0.74x magnification.

The optical viewfinder on the A850 provides a clear, lag-free composition experience, essential for action or landscape photography where quick framing is crucial. Contrast this with the HZ10W's LCD-only setup, which can feel limiting and less precise.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

One of the most pronounced divides is the fixed-lens design of the HZ10W versus the extensive interchangeable lens system of the A850.

The Samsung sports a 24-240 mm equivalent (10x zoom) f/3.3-5.8 lens. This built-in zoom lens covers a very practical range, appealing for travelers and casual shooters who want to capture wide-angle landscapes and telephoto portraits without changing glass. Its macro focusing down to 5 cm adds versatility for close-up work.

The Sony A850 accepts Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lenses, with access to over 140+ native lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto zooms and specialized macro optics - offering a pathway for growth in any photography genre.

This lens compatibility means the A850 is adaptable to portrait studios, wildlife hides, sporting arenas, and macro studios, while the HZ10W remains fixed in its compact niche.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Speed is a critical factor in sports and wildlife photography. The HZ10W does not offer continuous shooting modes or advanced shutter priorities, capping its usefulness for action shooters.

The A850 supports a max shutter speed of 1/8000s and continuous shooting at 3 fps, modest by modern standards but sufficient for moderate-speed action. It also supports exposure modes critical for creative control: shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure, and bracketing - features absent from Samsung’s simpler interface.

Low Light, ISO Range, and Image Stabilization

ISO sensitivity impacts night and event photography. The HZ10W has a native ISO range from 80 to 3200 but due to sensor size and CCD design, ISO 800+ results in noticeable noise and detail loss.

The A850 native ISO starts at 200 and goes up to 3200, expandable to 6400. Thanks to its full-frame sensor and modern CMOS architecture, it delivers cleaner images at elevated ISOs, preserving dynamic range and color fidelity.

Both cameras have sensor-based image stabilization, but its effectiveness is substantially more influential on a DSLR with longer focal lengths.

Video Capability: An Uneven Battle

While video capture is ubiquitous in modern cameras, in these models, the HZ10W offers HD video recording at 1280x720p at 30 fps, albeit in Motion JPEG format - a highly compressed and storage-heavy codec - with 640x480 and 320x240 options also available.

The Sony A850 does not support video recording, reflecting its focus on still photography and professional workflow integration.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life greatly influences fieldwork, and here again the DSLR excels. The Sony A850 offers outstanding battery life rated at approximately 880 shots per charge (CIPA rating), supported by a dedicated battery pack (NP-FM500H). This empowers prolonged shooting days without constantly swapping batteries.

The HZ10W’s compact design limits battery capacity, and while official endurance numbers are not specified, small compacts of this era typically yield 200-300 shots per charge. Storage-wise, the HZ10W uses a single SD/SDHC card slot, while the A850 offers dual slots supporting CompactFlash (UDMA) and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo, offering increased redundancy and flexibility.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Both models lack modern wireless connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC which are commonplace in more recent cameras.

The HZ10W includes an HDMI output and USB 2.0 interface; the same applies to the A850, supporting tethering and file transfer with PC-based workflows.

Both cameras lack GPS, microphones, headphone jacks, illuminated buttons, and touchscreen interfaces typical of newer designs.

Image Samples and Real-World Test Performance

I put both cameras through their paces in various shooting scenarios from portrait to landscapes to street photography. The results speak volumes about their intended audiences.

Samsung HZ10W front Samsung HZ10W screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

The Samsung HZ10W produced decent daylight images with satisfactory colors and contrast at base ISO, though noise became aggressively apparent past ISO 400. Portraits are soft with limited background separation due to the small sensor and narrow maximum apertures at telephoto.

On the flip side, the Sony A850 delivered sharp, high-detail images rich in dynamic range. Skin tones in portraits were rendered naturally, aided by the full-frame sensor’s superior bokeh capabilities. Landscapes revealed more shadow detail and highlight roll-off, critical in professional-grade photography.

The HZ10W’s limited autofocus hampered wildlife shooting, whereas the A850’s phase AF, though modest by today’s standards, maintained consistent locks in daylight.

How They Score Overall and In Specific Photography Genres

Let’s take a look at overall and genre-specific camera performance scores synthesized from our testing methodology that evaluates image quality, speed, control, and versatility.

Portraits

• Sony A850 dominates with excellent skin tone rendition and background blur
• Samsung HZ10W adequate for casual portraits but flat bokeh and less detail

Landscapes

• A850’s high resolution and dynamic range excel
• HZ10W limited by sensor size but decent at base ISO daylight

Wildlife

• A850’s lens adaptability and AF system advantage
• HZ10W struggles with focus speed and telephoto reach

Sports

• A850 better but limited burst speed is a bottleneck
• HZ10W not suitable for fast action

Street

• HZ10W shines for portability and discretion
• A850’s size heavier, less discreet, requiring a shoulder or backpack

Macro

• A850 adaptable with macro lenses
• HZ10W limited to fixed lens minimum focus distance

Night/Astro

• Full-frame A850 far superior for low-light
• HZ10W usable only in well-lit conditions

Video

• HZ10W supports HD video capturing
• A850 no video functions

Travel

• HZ10W’s compactness invaluable for casual travelers
• A850 preferred by professionals prioritizing image quality despite bulk

Professional Work

• A850 fully equipped for professional still photography
• HZ10W unsuitable beyond casual snapshots

Who Should Choose Which?

Samsung HZ10W

Perfect for casual photographers, travelers, and beginners who want a versatile, pocketable camera with acceptable image quality and zoom flexibility. Its strengths are simplicity, low cost (approx $300 at launch), and ease of use without technical complications.

Sony A850

A robust entry into full-frame DSLR photography at a mid-level price, designed for serious hobbyists and professionals seeking exceptional image quality and control. It fits those who prioritize manual exposure control, lens system versatility, and superior sensor performance for portraits, landscapes, and studio work.

My Final Thoughts

Comparing the Samsung HZ10W compact with the Sony A850 full-frame DSLR is a study in photographic priorities and technology progression. The HZ10W remains a competent compact for everyday snapshots but hits limitations in image quality, controls, and adaptability that place it squarely in the beginner/enthusiast domain of its time.

Conversely, the Sony A850 stands tall as a historical full-frame powerhouse offering professional-grade imaging and ergonomic design that continue to serve as a benchmark of high-quality photography, albeit with heavier weight and complexity.

If you seek convenience and budget-friendliness without professional aspirations, the HZ10W is a capable companion. But for anyone ready to commit to serious image-making with expansive creative potential, investing in the Sony A850 DSLR system manifoldly rewards your vision and craft.

I hope this comparative dive helps you ground your camera choice in tangible usability, image quality, and shooting style considerations beyond just spec sheets. Remember, the “best” camera is the one that feels right and supports your creative needs every time you press the shutter.

Happy shooting!