Samsung NX500 vs Sony A850: A Comprehensive Camera Comparison for Photographers and Creators

Choosing your next camera is a pivotal moment in your photographic journey - a decision that shapes your creative possibilities, workflow, and enjoyment. Today, we're putting two very different but interesting models head-to-head: the Samsung NX500, an entry-level mirrorless with modern imaging tech, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, a seasoned full-frame DSLR aimed at advanced enthusiasts. Both boast impactful sensor tech, yet their design philosophies, usability, and feature sets cater to distinctive user needs.

With over 15 years testing cameras across genres, we’ll unpack everything you need to know - including sensor performance, autofocus systems, handling, real-world usability, lens ecosystems, video capabilities, and how they hold up for various photography styles.

Let’s dive deep to help you discover which camera aligns best with your creative goals.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Handling often defines your experience far more than specs alone. The Samsung NX500 adopts a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless body ideal for travel and street shooting. In contrast, the Sony A850 is a heftier, traditional SLR with a solid grip and control heft favored by event and portrait photographers.

Clear size differentiation: Samsung NX500 is compact and lightweight; Sony A850 offers a heavier, robust grip.

• Samsung NX500: Weighing only 287g and measuring 120 x 64 x 43 mm, it’s highly portable, making it an ideal companion for travel, street photography, and casual shooting. The body is well-built but uses lighter materials, typical of mirrorless cameras aimed at enthusiasts stepping up from smartphones or compact cameras.

• Sony A850: At 895g and with a bulkier 156 x 117 x 82 mm frame, this DSLR feels substantial in hand. The robust build with environmental sealing (more on that later) provides a sense of durability and assurance for professional use. The ergonomics favor photographers used to traditional SLR handling with extensive grip real estate for larger telephoto lenses.

If you prioritize portability and discreet shooting, the NX500 wins. For robust handling and long shooting sessions where grip counts, the A850 shines.

Design and Control Layout

Having physical controls that intuitively support your shooting style is essential. The NX500 and A850 reflect their respective eras and design goals with quite distinct layouts.

• NX500: The NX500 features a streamlined top deck with a mode dial, a few dedicated buttons, and an integrated control dial. Samsung’s incorporation of a touchscreen on the rear (more soon) somewhat reduces the need for extensive physical buttons. However, its rangefinder style body means no traditional viewfinder, possibly detracting from those who prefer eye-level shooting.

• A850: Sony’s DSLR offers a comprehensive array of controls on the top plate, including a dedicated top LCD, mode dial, and physical buttons arranged around the grip for quick access to exposure compensation, ISO, drive modes, and more. The traditional pentaprism viewfinder dominates the experience for photographers who like to compose shot with their eye to the viewfinder.

We found that the A850’s controls favor seasoned photographers who value tactile feedback and direct access, while the NX500 aims for a balance between simplicity and flexibility, especially leveraging touchscreen for navigation.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: APS-C Mirrorless vs Full-Frame DSLR

Sensor performance is arguably the most critical aspect when choosing a camera. The NX500 sports a modern 28MP BSI-CMOS APS-C sensor optimized for high resolution and dynamic range, while the A850 features a 24.6MP full-frame CMOS sensor from Sony’s earlier generation.

Interpretation:

• The NX500’s back-illuminated CMOS sensor design yields excellent dynamic range (13.9 EV) and outstanding color depth - impressive for APS-C format, pushing it toward semi-professional image quality.
• The Sony A850 boasts a larger sensor area with full-frame advantage aiding shallow depth of field and superior image blur for portraits. However, its max sensitivity caps at ISO 3200 native, less than the NX500’s generous ISO range.
• The NX500’s lack of anti-aliasing filter enhances detail rendering at the expense of potential moiré, which is generally manageable.
• In real-world terms, the NX500 nails crisp details and vibrant colors with excellent noise control at higher ISO, perfect for low-light handheld shooting.
• While the A850’s full-frame delivers traditional “full-frame look” with seamless bokeh, its older sensor tech limits dynamic range and ISO latitude by today’s standards.

Bottom line: For high resolution and flexibility, especially in mixed lighting, the NX500’s sensor technology really shines. Those needing full-frame aesthetics or very shallow depth of field may lean to the A850 but accept compromises in dynamic range and low-light versatility.

Displays, Viewfinders, and User Interface

How you interact with your camera impacts your speed and workflow. The NX500 integrates a modern touchscreen, while the A850 offers a classic optical pentaprism finder.

• Samsung NX500:

  • 3-inch 1036k-dot touchscreen LCD with tilt capability.
  • This allows for intuitive AF selection, menu navigation, and composing at tricky angles.
  • The absence of an electronic or optical viewfinder means composing often requires LCD use, which may feel awkward in bright sunlight.

• Sony A850:

  • 3-inch fixed TFT Xtra Fine LCD at 922k dots.
  • Traditional pentaprism optical viewfinder offers 98% coverage and a magnification of 0.74x, providing a classic SLR shooting experience.
  • Menus and controls are navigated using physical buttons arranged around the LCD.

Practical Insight: For run-and-gun or video shooting, the NX500’s tilting, touch-enabled LCD outpaces the A850’s fixed screen. The A850 maintains a classic SLR advantage with its bright, clear optical viewfinder, preferred by photographers who rely on eye-level composition in diverse lighting.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus performance is essential across genres like wildlife, sports, and portraiture. The two cameras implement distinct AF technologies reflecting their eras and form factors.

The Samsung NX500 uses a hybrid autofocus system blending fast phase detection with contrast detection, covering 209 focus points - exceedingly sophisticated for its class. This results in fast and reliable focusing performance with good tracking of moving subjects and face detection that works well even in tricky lighting.

The Sony A850 relies on an older, traditional 9-point phase-detection AF array without face or eye recognition. While competent for static subjects and portraiture, it struggles with fast-moving subjects or continuous tracking, making it less suitable for sports or wildlife compared to the NX500.

In practical use, the NX500’s autofocus adaptability and speed present a significant advantage for increasingly dynamic shooting contexts. Meanwhile, the A850 remains solid if you primarily shoot portraits or landscapes with predictable focus demands.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Options

• The Sony A850 features in-body 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization, benefiting legacy and third-party lenses without IS capabilities. This supports sharper handheld shots at slower shutter speeds.
• The Samsung NX500, meanwhile, lacks built-in stabilization, relying on lens-based IS if available.

Shutter speed ranges:

• NX500: 30s to 1/6000s.
• A850: 30s to 1/8000s.

The faster max shutter on the A850 is useful for shooting bright scenes wide open or capturing ultra-fast motion.

If you frequently shoot without IS lenses or in low light handheld, the A850’s in-body stabilization offers tangible benefits.

Lens Ecosystems: Choice, Availability, and Versatility

Lens selection can make or break your creative flexibility.

• Samsung NX lens mount supports approximately 32 native lenses, including primes and zooms tailored to APS-C.
• Sony/Minolta Alpha mount benefits from a large 143+ lens selection, spanning old Minolta glass to modern Sony offerings, including full-frame and APS-C options.

This lens ecosystem is vital:

• NX500 is somewhat limited if you want specialized lenses like tilt-shifts, high-end telephotos, or ultra-fast primes.
• A850 enjoys extensive lens choices for nearly any genre: macro, wildlife telephoto, portrait primes, ultra-wide landscapes.

If maximizing lens availability and secondhand options matters, the A850 leads. But if size and convenience count, the more compact NX lenses may match your style.

Battery Life and Storage

The Sony A850 delivers excellent battery life, more than double that of the NX500, owing to its DSLR design and fewer power-demanding electronic features. Dual card slots on the A850 offer robust backup or overflow capacity critical for wedding or professional shooters.

The NX500 uses widely available SD cards but only has a single slot, increasing the risk of data loss or working under storage constraints on extended shoots.

Video Capabilities

The NX500 stands out with serious 4K video options and a touchscreen interface enabling smooth manual focus pull and menu control. This makes it a strong contender for vloggers or hybrid shooters on a budget, even if lacking professional audio inputs.

The A850 has no video recording feature, reflecting its DSLR design era focus purely on stills.

Weather Sealing and Durability

• The Sony A850 features environmental sealing, offering improved resistance to dust and light moisture - valuable during outdoor landscapes, sports, or wildlife photography in variable weather.
• The Samsung NX500 lacks weather sealing and ruggedness features, encouraging cautious use in harsh conditions or heavy rain.

For professional or adventure shooting requiring reliability in tough environments, the A850 builds confidence.

Practical Performance Across Various Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these models perform across popular photography styles and creative needs, supported by our real-world testing and image samples.

Samsung NX500 front Samsung NX500 screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

Portrait and Wedding Photography

• NX500: Effective skin tone rendering, thanks to excellent color depth, with beautiful bokeh from APS-C primes. Eye and face detection AF help nail focus on subjects.
• A850: Full-frame sensor excels at shallow depth of field and natural skin tones, but the lower dynamic range demands careful exposure to avoid highlight clipping.

Landscape Photography

• NX500: Wide dynamic range yields impressive shadow detail. Compact design and tilting screen help framing complex scenes.
• A850: Larger sensor excels at fine detail. Weather sealing is a strong asset outdoors. Limited ISO range and fixed LCD may reduce flexibility.

Wildlife Photography

• NX500: Fast hybrid AF and 9fps continuous shooting make it nimble for tracking animals.
• A850: Slower 3fps and basic AF limits capturing fast action; heavier lenses stabilize well on the robust body.

Sports Photography

• NX500: Effective continuous AF tracking and high burst rate support dynamic subjects.
• A850: Modest burst speed and fewer AF points challenge fast action capture but excels in bright light shooting.

Street Photography

• NX500: Small size, silent shutter, and touchscreen control help discreet candid shots.
• A850: Bulkier and louder shutter, less suited for inconspicuous shooting.

Macro Photography

• NX500: Compatibility with macro-capable primes, though no focus stacking or bracketing.
• A850: Wide lens options, sensor stabilization aids handheld macro.

Night and Astro Photography

• NX500: High ISO capability and dynamic range facilitate starfield and night shots.
• A850: Lower ISO ceiling challenges dim lighting, but full-frame sensor helps with star resolution.

Video and Vlogging

• NX500: 4K video and touchscreen make it a ready choice for creators.
• A850: No video recording.

Travel and Versatility

• NX500: Lightweight, Wi-Fi / Bluetooth connectivity, tilt screen - excellent portable travel system.
• A850: Durable, longer battery life, extensive lenses but large and heavy.

Professional Use and Workflow

• NX500: Affordable RAW support and wireless features ease workflow but lacks weather sealing.
• A850: Dual cards, full-frame files, and robust body suit pro applications.

Overall Performance Ratings and Value Assessment

Our comprehensive benchmark analysis reflects the cameras’ strengths and compromises.

• Samsung NX500 scores higher for resolution, dynamic range, video, AF speed, and portability.
• Sony A850 excels in battery endurance, durability, lens choice, and traditional DSLR handling.

These charts confirm the NX500’s versatility across genres like street, video, and wildlife, while the A850 holds steady in portrait and landscape niches where stability and full-frame rendering matter most.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera is Right for You?

Getting Started and Accessories

If you decide on the Samsung NX500:

• Explore Samsung NX prime lenses for portrait bokeh and low light.
• Invest in SD cards with high write speeds for 4K video.
• Consider external flashes for creative lighting.

If the Sony A850 fits your needs:

• Take advantage of Sony/Minolta Alpha lens legacy for portrait primes and telephotos.
• Stock up on Compact Flash cards and trusted batteries for long shoots.
• Use protective gear to maximize weather sealing benefits.

Conclusion: Expertise-Driven Recommendations for Your Next Camera

The Samsung NX500 impresses with its modern sensor, lively autofocus, and 4K capabilities wrapped in a compact mirrorless body. It's a versatile tool for enthusiasts embracing hybrid photo-video workflows and mobility.

The Sony A850, with its venerable full-frame sensor and DSLR ergonomics, remains compelling for traditionalists who prioritize image quality, durability, and an expansive lens ecosystem - especially in controlled shooting environments like studio or dedicated portrait work.

By weighing your unique creative priorities - be it video, portability, full-frame aesthetics, or rugged reliability - you can confidently select the camera that will best support your artistic vision and help you grow your craft.

Before you buy, we recommend testing both models if possible or viewing sample images and hands-on demos, as ergonomics and interface preferences are deeply personal aspects of your shooting enjoyment.

Explore further, try different lenses, and experiment to unlock the full potential of your chosen camera. Your next masterpiece is just a shutter press away.

If you have questions or need advice for specific lenses or accessories, feel free to ask - a well-informed start sets your photography on a rewarding path.

Happy shooting!

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