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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850

Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40
Samsung MV800 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Samsung MV800
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
  • Introduced September 2011
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Samsung MV800 and Sony A850, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the MV800 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the MV800 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The MV800 was manufactured 17 months after the A850 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the MV800 grades versus the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Sony A850

 MV800 A850 
IntroducedSeptember 2011April 2010More modern by 17 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Samsung MV800

 A850 MV800 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Samsung MV800 and Sony A850

 MV800 A850 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Samsung MV800 offers outside measurements of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Samsung MV800 and Sony A850 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the MV800 vs the A850.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the MV800 and A850 is 97 and 54 respectively.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The pic here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the MV800 and A850.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The MV800 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A850 will show greater detail due to its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The younger MV800 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung MV800 Portrait photography factors
Sony A850 Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
fantastic megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung MV800 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition (121 grams)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Samsung MV800 Sports photography information
Sony A850 Sports photography information
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung MV800 Travel photography advice
Sony A850 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than competition (121g)
supports focus by touch
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
55
environment sealing
fantastic megapixels (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Samsung MV800 Landscape photography info
Sony A850 Landscape photography info
43
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung MV800 Vlogging details
Sony A850 Vlogging details
34
pretty wide (26mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competition (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Samsung MV800 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung MV800 and Sony A850
 Samsung MV800Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung MV800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-09-01 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.20 m no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model BP70 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Micro SD Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots One Two
Price at launch $499 $0