Samsung NX5 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850: A Deep Dive into Two 2010 Classics

Choosing between cameras can sometimes feel like navigating a labyrinth, especially when the contenders come from different segments of the photography spectrum. Today, I'm dissecting two distinctly different ILM cameras from 2010 - the Samsung NX5, an entry-level mirrorless shooter, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, a full-frame powerhouse aimed at advanced users. Both are celebrated in their own right, yet they serve very different photographic philosophies and workflows.

Having spent extensive hours with both models - from pixel-peeping in studio setups to chasing fleeting light outdoors - I'll break down their technical aspects, real-world usability, and genre-specific performance. This way, whether you’re a casual enthusiast or a pro looking to add something unique to your gear arsenal, this guide will help clarify where each camera stands.

First Look: Handling and Ergonomics

Handling is more than just grip comfort - it shapes your shooting experience. I started my assessment with tactile interaction.

The Samsung NX5 impresses with its compact SLR-style mirrorless body. Its 123mm width and 499g weight make it particularly approachable for those seeking portability without feeling cramped. The camera employs Samsung’s DRIM Engine for processing but keeps things simple ergonomically. The lack of environmental sealing and relatively light build indicate a design skewed towards casual or beginner shooters.

In contrast, the Sony A850 weighs in at a formidable 895g and measures 156x117x82mm, delivering a substantial, robust feel. It’s a mid-size DSLR that users accustomed to traditional SLRs will appreciate for stability and confidence during long shoots. Notably, it includes weather-sealing, reassuring professionals working in variable conditions.

Ergonomically, the A850 offers a deeper grip and a more substantial button layout - ideal for extended handheld shooting. The NX5’s smaller size and lighter weight benefit street, travel, and everyday photography but may sacrifice comfort for prolonged sessions.

Design Language: Control Layout and User Interface

Beyond physical dimensions lies the user interface - a critical factor in how intuitively a camera behaves.

Samsung’s NX5 boasts a clean, uncluttered top plate with dedicated mode dials that cover essentials - aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes available for creative control. However, some controls feel cramped due to the body’s diminutive footprint, and there are no illuminated buttons, which hampers night shooting usability.

Sony’s A850 sports a more traditional DSLR layout with a top LCD panel providing quick access to settings. The presence of a top screen is a welcome feature, allowing exposures, shutter speeds, battery life, and more at a glance. Controls are spaced generously and designed with pro ergonomics in mind - everything is within easy thumb reach.

Neither camera offers touchscreen functionality, which was rare in 2010. Both rely on physical dials and buttons, with the A850’s layout feeling more precise and gratifying for advanced workflows.

Sensor Technology: Size, Resolution, and Impact on Image Quality

At the heart of any camera lies its sensor. Its specs often dictate image quality ceilings - let’s take a closer look.

Samsung’s NX5 uses a 15MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.4x15.6mm), typical for entry-level mirrorless at the time. While respectable, its smaller surface area (365.04 mm²) constrains low-light performance and dynamic range. An anti-aliasing filter is present, potentially softening images in favor of artifact control.

On the flip side, the Sony A850 wields a 25MP full-frame CMOS sensor (35.9x24 mm), which nearly doubles the sensor area (861.6 mm²). This sensor’s advanced Bionz processor delivers richer tonality - DxOMark scores for the A850 give a color depth of 23.8 bits and a dynamic range of 12.2 EV, both exceptional for its period. The anti-aliasing filter is present but balanced well against detail retention.

An important note is the ISO range: The NX5 maxes out at ISO 3200 native, while the A850 also peaks at 3200 but with a boosted mode to 6400, extending usability in dimmer environments.

For photographers prioritizing image quality, especially for prints or landscape work requiring exceptional nuance, Sony’s sensor clearly has the upper hand.

Viewing Experience: LCD Screens and Viewfinders

Evaluating how the cameras share information back to you is vital, as it affects framing, reviewing, and navigating menus.

The NX5’s 3-inch OLED screen offers vivid colors and deep contrast but at a modest resolution of 230k dots, which feels coarse compared to modern standards. While accurate for composition and exposure checking, it lacks the detail needed for confident focus confirmation, especially with manual or macro subjects.

In contrast, the Sony A850 features a 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine color LCD boasting 922k dots - roughly four times the pixel density, resulting in crisp review images and precise menu interaction. The top-screen display is an added bonus for quick data checks without activating the main LCD.

The viewfinders differ fundamentally. The NX5 employs a 0.57x magnification electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, which offers convenient framing and allows live view exposure preview. However, the resolution isn’t specified and is generally inferior to the A850’s large optical pentaprism providing 98% coverage at 0.74x magnification - delivering a natural, lag-free scene view favored by many professionals, especially for fast-paced subjects.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus - the gatekeeper to sharp images - deserves close scrutiny considering these cameras’ differing technologies.

The Samsung NX5’s contrast-detection AF system includes 15 focus points with face detection and multi-area AF modes. Continuous autofocus is available but limited by the processor speed and sensor readout rates, translating to slower lock times especially in low contrast or dynamic environments.

The Sony A850 employs a phase-detection system with 9 focus points - fewer than the NX5 but optimized for DSLR mechanics. With cross-type sensors, it provides fast and reliable AF acquisition, well suited for portrait and wildlife photography. Continuous AF is solid, though it lacks the latest tracking algorithms that emerged years later.

During wildlife and sports testing, the A850 clearly outperformed the NX5 in maintaining sharp focus on moving subjects, benefiting from the optical viewfinder’s real-time feedback and phase detection’s speed.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds

When capturing action, shutter speed ranges and frame rates are crucial.

Both cameras allow shutter speeds between 30s and 1/4000s (NX5) or 1/8000s (A850). The Sony’s ability to shoot at 1/8000s enables freezing extremely fast motion and using wide apertures in bright sunlight without ND filters.

Continuous shooting is limited to 3 fps for both, a modest rate compared to contemporary sports cameras. This makes neither ideal for high-speed action bursts, though the A850’s larger buffer and UDMA storage slot ensure smoother performance.

Flash and External Lighting Compatibility

Lighting dramatically shapes your photography style. Let’s talk built-in units and flash support.

The Samsung NX5 comes with a built-in flash boasting an 11-meter range and features multiple modes including red-eye reduction, fill-in, and smart flash. Its presence supports casual use but lacks power for extensive lighting control.

Conversely, the Sony A850 omits a built-in flash altogether, signaling a professional orientation that assumes external strobes. Its external flash capability is extensive, supporting wireless modes and compatible with Sony’s Pro flashes, offering greater flexibility for studio and event photographers.

Battery Life and Storage

Long shooting sessions demand reliable power and ample storage.

Samsung’s NX5 uses the BP1130 battery offering approximately 400 shots per full charge, respectable for mirrorless cameras of its era. However, the single SD/SDHC card slot restricts backup options, which could deter pros seeking dual slots for redundancy.

Sony’s A850, powered by NP-FM500H batteries, delivers an impressive 880 shots per charge, reflecting its DSLR efficiency and battery capacity. The dual storage slots accept Compact Flash and Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards, enhancing workflow flexibility and backup security.

Lens Ecosystems: Access and Variety

No camera stands alone - lenses matter.

The Samsung NX5 utilizes the proprietary Samsung NX mount with 32 lenses available in 2010. This was a younger ecosystem, with fewer primes and telephotos available compared to established brands. While Samsung partnered with Schneider-Kreuznach for optics, choices were limited especially in fast lenses or specialized optics.

Sony A850’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount taps into a vast legacy of 143 lenses - including optics from Minolta’s acclaimed lineup and Zeiss-branded glass. This rich ecosystem offers everything from macro to super-telephotos and access to high-quality primes, accommodating a wide range of specialties and budgets.

An important consideration: adapters exist allowing Sony A850 to utilize Sony E-mount lenses and manual glass seamlessly; however, the NX5 is more limited in cross-brand compatibility.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera is modern in connectivity - both lack Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC. The NX5 offers HDMI output and USB 2.0, but wireless features are absent, limiting rapid file transfers or remote operation.

The A850 also features HDMI and USB 2.0 but no live view or video capability, which might disappoint multimedia content creators.

Performance in Specific Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these cameras stack up across major photography fields.

Portrait Photography

Sony A850 shines through its full-frame sensor delivering creamy bokeh and superior skin tone rendition thanks to superior color depth. The more sophisticated autofocus, particularly in challenging lighting, supports sharp eye detection with manual fine-tuning. The Samsung NX5’s smaller sensor and contrast AF system struggle to isolate eyes as crisply, and bokeh is less pronounced.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are paramount here. The A850 - with its 25MP full-frame sensor and 12.2 stops dynamic range - handles complex lighting gracefully, preserving shadows and highlights superbly. Coupled with weather-sealing and a robust build, it’s ready for rugged environments. The NX5’s APS-C sensor offers moderate resolution and dynamic range, but the lack of environmental sealing limits outdoor versatility.

Wildlife Photography

Autofocus speed and burst rates are crucial. The A850’s phase-detection AF combined with optical viewfinder feedback is a clear advantage. For bird or animal tracking, its larger lens selection, especially telephoto primes and zooms, really stands out. The NX5’s mirrorless contrast-detection AF and slower burst mode hinder capturing fast-moving subjects effectively.

Sports Photography

Both cameras top out at 3 fps - meager for sports shooters. However, the A850’s faster shutter ceiling (1/8000s) enables using wide apertures in daylight sports. Its phase-detection AF and robust ergonomics favor action shooting more than the NX5.

Street Photography

Here, size and discretion are key. The lightweight NX5's compact body and quiet operation (mirrorless) make it more suitable for candid street capture. Its silent electronic shutter isn’t available, which is a drawback, but overall the NX5 feels less intimidating and easier to carry than the hefty A850.

Macro Photography

Precise focusing and stabilization impact results. Neither camera offers in-body stabilization, but the A850 benefits from a broader lens pool, including excellent macro options. Focusing precision assisted by phase detection in A850 is preferable for macro work compared to the NX5’s slower contrast detection.

Night/Astro Photography

Low-light ISO performance and long exposures matter here. The A850’s superior high ISO handling and extended shutter speed range make it more suited to astro and nightscapes. The NX5’s limited ISO range (max 3200) and noisier sensor reduce its utility in such scenarios.

Video Capabilities

NX5 provides basic HD 720p video recording at 30 fps with H.264 compression - rudimentary for modern standards but better than the A850 which provides no video capability at all. This could sway buyers interested in hybrid photo-video roles toward the NX5.

Travel Photography

In travel, compactness, versatility, battery life, and lens options count. The NX5’s lightweight body and smaller lenses make it very appealing for unencumbered travel. Battery life is decent, but the small lens selection constrains some creativity. The A850, although weighty, offers excellent battery endurance and lens flexibility - a trade-off for quality over weight.

Professional Work

The A850 clearly targets professionals or advanced amateurs, with weather sealing, dual card slots, expansive lens libraries, and higher image fidelity. The NX5, by contrast, targets beginners or hobbyists with less demanding workflows.

Overall Image Quality and Sample Gallery

Image quality speaks volumes, so I scrutinized RAW files and JPEGs from both cameras under controlled conditions and on location.

Samsung NX5 screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

The Sony A850 produces images with richer detail, smoother gradations, and superior dynamic range. Skin tones look natural and slightly warmer but true to life. Shadows hold subtle texture, and high ISO shots maintain usable noise levels up to ISO 3200.

Samsung NX5’s output is decent but noticeably softer with more aggressive noise reduction. Colors are somewhat flat and dynamic range is limited, especially in tricky lighting, leading to quicker highlight clipping.

Final Performance Ratings and Value Assessments

Our in-depth testing team assigned the Sony A850 an overall score near 82/100 - reflecting its pro-grade strengths - while the NX5 registered around 62/100, appropriate for an entry-level device but highlighting its limitations.

Breaking down by genre confirms expectations: A850 dominates in portrait, landscape, wildlife, and professional use; NX5 carves a niche in casual, street, and beginner travel scenarios.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose the Samsung NX5 if you:

• Are new to interchangeable lens cameras and want an easy, light system to carry
• Value compactness and basic HD video capability
• Prefer an affordable kit with simple controls without overwhelming features
• Primarily shoot casual, travel, or street photography in good light

Choose the Sony A850 if you:

• Demand top-notch full-frame image quality for portraits, landscapes, or studio work
• Need rugged build with weather sealing and professional connectivity options
• Utilize a broad lens arsenal for diverse shooting conditions including wildlife and sports
• Require reliable, longer battery life and dual card slots for mission-critical shoots
• Are willing to sacrifice portability and video features for superior still image performance

Parting Thoughts

While these cameras were contemporaries launched in 2010, their design philosophies could hardly be more divergent. The Samsung NX5 embodies a baby-step into mirrorless photography ideal for hobbyists easing off compact cameras, whereas the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 remains a testament to the enduring value of full-frame DSLRs with a professional flair.

Having handled both extensively, I recommend you align your choice with your photographic ambitions first. Both cameras can carve out rewarding niches - but only one matches your style. That’s the essence of informed camera buying.

I hope this detailed comparison arms you well for your next photographic adventure. Happy shooting!