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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43
Samsung WB850F front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced May 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A35
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A37, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WB850F (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the WB850F (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The WB850F was launched 4 months before the A37 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung WB850F being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the WB850F matches up vs the A37 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Sony A37

 WB850F A37 
Screen dimension3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Samsung WB850F

 A37 WB850F 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Samsung WB850F and Sony A37

 WB850F A37 
IntroducedJanuary 2012May 2012Similar age
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung WB850F offers 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) and the Sony A37 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A37 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the WB850F against the A37.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the WB850F and A37 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The visual below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the WB850F and A37.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The WB850F uses the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field harder.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung WB850F
Portrait photography with Sony A37
43
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Street photography camera
Sony A37 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Sports photography camera
Sony A37 as a Sports photography camera
52
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung WB850F Travel photography highlights
Sony A37 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than others (250 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung WB850F Landscape photography factors
Sony A37 Landscape photography factors
49
focusing manually
really wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
64
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.6 inch)
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung WB850F Vlogging factors
Sony A37 Vlogging factors
34
really wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung WB850F and Sony A37
 Samsung WB850FSony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung WB850F Sony SLT-A37
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-09 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.6 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 506g (1.12 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 62 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $599 $522