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Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43
Samsung WB850F front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Samsung WB850F
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 109 x 62 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Samsung WB850F and Sony a1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the WB850F (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the WB850F (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WB850F was released 10 years before the a1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung WB850F being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the WB850F grades versus the a1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Sony a1

 WB850F a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Samsung WB850F

 a1 WB850F 
RevealedJanuary 2021January 2012More recent by 110 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k614kClearer display (+826k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung WB850F and Sony a1

 WB850F a1 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Samsung WB850F provides outer 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 a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung WB850F and Sony a1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the WB850F versus the a1.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the WB850F and a1 is 91 and 61 respectively.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the WB850F and a1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The WB850F featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony a1 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 34MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older WB850F will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung WB850F Portrait photography factors
Sony a1 Portrait photography factors
43
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
88
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/400 seconds)
amazing MP (50 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung WB850F Street photography info
Sony a1 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
79
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Sports photography camera
Sony a1 as a Sports photography camera
52
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
max fps high (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing MP (50MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery (530 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Travel photography camera
Sony a1 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
good battery (530 shots)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
amazing MP (50 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung WB850F
Landscape photography with Sony a1
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
88
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing MP (50MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (32,000)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
good battery (530 CIPA)
has double storage slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung WB850F
Vlogging with Sony a1
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (7680 x 4320 resolution)
does have mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung WB850F and Sony a1
 Samsung WB850FSony Alpha a1
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung WB850F Sony Alpha a1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-09 2021-01-26
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 50MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 759
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 133
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 614 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/400s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 7680x4320
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 737g (1.62 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 62 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 530 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Cost at launch $599 $6,498