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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850

Portability
83
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66
Samsung NX20 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Samsung NX20
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Superseded the Samsung NX11
  • Successor is Samsung NX30
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
  • Revealed April 2010
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Samsung NX20 versus Sony A850, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the NX20 (20MP) and the A850 (25MP) is fairly well matched but the NX20 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The NX20 was introduced 2 years after the A850 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the NX20 grades against the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Sony A850

 NX20 A850 
RevealedApril 2012April 2010More modern by 25 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Samsung NX20

 A850 NX20 
Display resolution922k614kSharper display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX20 and Sony A850

 NX20 A850 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung NX20 has outer dimensions of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Samsung NX20 versus Sony A850 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the NX20 vs the A850.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the NX20 and A850 is 83 and 54 respectively.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX20 and A850.

As you can see, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The NX20 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A850 will resolve more detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NX20 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX20
Portrait photography with Sony A850
77
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
72
has manual focus
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Samsung NX20 Street photography advice
Sony A850 Street photography advice
77
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (341g)
does not have image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX20 Sports photography factors
Sony A850 Sports photography factors
61
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX20 Travel photography info
Sony A850 Travel photography info
77
lighter than competition in class (341g)
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
55
environment proofing
amazing resolution (25MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX20 Landscape photography details
Sony A850 Landscape photography details
70
manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX20 Vlogging information
Sony A850 Vlogging information
78
selfie friendly screen
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
lighter than competition in class (341g)
does not have image stabilization
9
can't record video
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX20 and Sony A850
 Samsung NX20Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX20 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-20 2010-04-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Active Matrix OLED screen TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 75 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 12.2
DXO Low light rating 785 1415
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 880 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1130 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail cost $1,100 $0