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Sony A380 vs Sony A850

Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Earlier Model is Sony A350
  • Updated by Sony A390
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony A380 vs Sony A850, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the A380 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the A380 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A380 was released 7 months earlier than the A850 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the A380 matches up versus the A850 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony A850

 A380 A850 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony A380

 A850 A380 
IntroducedApril 2010August 2009Fresher by 7 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony A850

 A380 A850 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A380 provides outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A380 vs Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the A380 vs the A850.

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and A850 is 68 and 54 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A380 and A850.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A380 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A850 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older A380 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 Portrait photography info
Sony A850 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count great (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 Street photography details
Sony A850 Street photography details
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography features
Sony A850 Travel photography features
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
55
weather sealing
megapixel count great (25MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 Landscape photography advice
Sony A850 Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
no liveview
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 Vlogging details
Sony A850 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
9
can't shoot video
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Sony A380 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony A850
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-08-24 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 519 gr (1.14 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.2
DXO Low light rating 614 1415
Other
Battery life 500 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $899 $0