Samsung NX1100 vs Sony A850

On this page, we are reviewing the Samsung NX1100 and Sony A850, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the NX1100 (20MP) and the A850 (25MP) is very close but the NX1100 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

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The NX1100 was launched 3 years later than the A850 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX1100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the NX1100 grades vs the A850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung NX1100 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are viewable at Samsung NX1100 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Samsung NX1100 has outer measurements of 114mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung NX1100 and Sony A850 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the NX1100 versus the A850.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NX1100 and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The visual here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the NX1100 and A850.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NX1100 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent NX1100 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.