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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43
Samsung WB850F front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Samsung WB850F
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 109 x 62 x 25mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A350
  • Later Model is Sony A390
Photography Glossary

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A380, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the WB850F (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty similar but the WB850F (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The WB850F was released 2 years after the A380 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Samsung WB850F being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the WB850F grades against the A380 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Sony A380

 WB850F A380 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 29 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Samsung WB850F

 A380 WB850F 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Samsung WB850F and Sony A380

 WB850F A380 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Samsung WB850F has got exterior measurements of 109mm x 62mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony A380 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A380 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the WB850F against the A380.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the WB850F and A380 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading technical specs. The image here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WB850F and A380.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WB850F featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Samsung WB850F will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher WB850F provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung WB850F Portrait photography advice
Sony A380 Portrait photography advice
43
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
71
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung WB850F Street photography highlights
Sony A380 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung WB850F
Sports photography with Sony A380
52
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Travel photography camera
Sony A380 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
53
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (500 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung WB850F Landscape photography advice
Sony A380 Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
61
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery life (500 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung WB850F Vlogging features
Sony A380 Vlogging features
34
rather wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
9
can't record video
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung WB850F and Sony A380
 Samsung WB850FSony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung WB850F Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-09 2009-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 519 gr (1.14 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 62 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 614
Other
Battery life - 500 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $599 $899