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Sony A850 vs Sony A6100

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Alpha a6100 front
Portability
81
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Sony A6100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 67 x 59mm
  • Announced August 2019
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Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Sony A850 and Sony A6100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are created by Sony. The resolution of the A850 (25MP) and the A6100 (24MP) is very similar but the A850 (Full frame) and A6100 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The A850 was brought out 10 years before the A6100 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A6100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the A850 scores versus the A6100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony A6100

 A850 A6100 

Reasons to pick Sony A6100 over the Sony A850

 A6100 A850 
AnnouncedAugust 2019April 2010Fresher by 114 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony A6100

 A850 A6100 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution922k922kExact same display resolution

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A850 enjoys outer measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony A6100 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

See the Sony A850 and Sony A6100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the A850 and the A6100.

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A850 and A6100 is 54 and 81 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and A6100.

Plainly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A850 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony A850 will deliver greater detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A6100 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
no liveview
82
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6100 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
79
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
very good ISO range (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography info
Sony A6100 Sports photography info
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
75
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6100 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
resolution is high (25MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
86
has bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
resolution is good (24MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6100 Landscape photography highlights
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
no liveview
doesn't have Timelapse mode
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (32,000)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging advice
Sony A6100 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone port
does not have image stabilization
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Sony A850 vs Sony A6100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony A6100
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Alpha a6100
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha a6100
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2010-04-15 2019-08-28
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6048 x 4032 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 32000
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 425
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Flash off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless, hi-speed
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 lb) 396 grams (0.87 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 120 x 67 x 59mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1415 not tested
Other
Battery life 880 photographs 420 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Two Single
Cost at release $0 $748