Samsung NX20 vs Sony A850

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Samsung NX20 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are provided at Samsung NX20 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.