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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43
Samsung WB850F front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 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
  • Launched January 2012
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A55, former is 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 A55 (16MP) is relatively similar but the WB850F (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The WB850F was unveiled 17 months after the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung WB850F being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the WB850F matches up vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Sony A55

 WB850F A55 
ReleasedJanuary 2012August 2010Newer by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Samsung WB850F

 A55 WB850F 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k614kCrisper screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung WB850F and Sony A55

 WB850F A55 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung WB850F comes with outside dimensions of 109mm x 62mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Samsung WB850F versus Sony A55 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the WB850F against the A55.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the WB850F and A55 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the WB850F and A55.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The WB850F provides the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder. The more modern WB850F will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung WB850F as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
43
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung WB850F Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung WB850F Sports photography info
Sony A55 Sports photography info
52
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung WB850F Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition (250 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung WB850F Landscape photography features
Sony A55 Landscape photography features
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
67
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (380 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung WB850F
Vlogging with Sony A55
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
78
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
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Samsung WB850F vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung WB850F and Sony A55
 Samsung WB850FSony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung WB850F Sony SLT-A55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 500 grams (1.10 lb)
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 All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $599 $800