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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX20
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Samsung NX30 and Sony A850, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the NX30 (20MP) and the A850 (25MP) is very well matched but the NX30 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The NX30 was released 3 years later than the A850 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the NX30 scores vs the A850 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A850

 NX30 A850 
IntroducedJanuary 2014April 2010Fresher by 46 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k922kCrisper display (+114k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Samsung NX30

 A850 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A850

 NX30 A850 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Samsung NX30 has outer measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Look at the Samsung NX30 and Sony A850 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the NX30 compared to the A850.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX30 and A850 is 75 and 54 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX30 and A850.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The NX30 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern NX30 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX30 Portrait photography info
Sony A850 Portrait photography info
77
has manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
72
focusing manually
excellent sensor resolution (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX30
Street photography with Sony A850
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 Sports photography factors
Sony A850 Sports photography factors
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX30
Travel photography with Sony A850
74
includes touch focus
MP count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
environment proofing
excellent sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 Landscape photography factors
Sony A850 Landscape photography factors
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
no liveview feature
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging highlights
Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
75
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
no image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A850
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2014-01-03 2010-04-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DRIMeIV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,036k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech AMOLED TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375 gr (0.83 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1014 1415
Other
Battery life 360 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1410 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots Single Two
Launch price $699 $0