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Sony A850 vs Sony G3

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
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Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Sony A850 vs Sony G3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and G3 (10MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and G3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The A850 was revealed 16 months later than the G3 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the A850 grades against the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony G3

 A850 G3 
IntroducedApril 2010January 2009More recent by 16 months
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony A850

 G3 A850 
Display size3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony G3

 A850 G3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A850 has outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony G3 has dimensions of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

See the Sony A850 vs Sony G3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the A850 and the G3.

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A850 and G3 is 54 and 94 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and G3.

As you can see, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A850 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A850 will give you extra detail because of its extra 15MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer A850 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography information
Sony G3 Portrait photography information
72
manual focus
fantastic MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
26
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography info
Sony G3 Street photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A850
Sports photography with Sony G3
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic MP (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
23
image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography information
Sony G3 Travel photography information
55
environment proof
fantastic MP (25MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography features
Sony G3 Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
fantastic MP (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
doesn't have Timelapse function
36
you can focus manually
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging factors
Sony G3 Vlogging factors
9
no video
27
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic support
Photography Glossary

Sony A850 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony G3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-04-15 2009-01-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6048 x 4032 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.5"
Resolution of display 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 lb) 185g (0.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $0 $200