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Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Sony A850 versus Sony HX30V, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and HX30V (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The A850 was announced 22 months prior to the HX30V making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A850 matches up against the HX30V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony HX30V

 A850 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A850

 HX30V A850 
LaunchedFebruary 2012April 2010More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony HX30V

 A850 HX30V 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution922k922kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A850 provides outside dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A850 versus the HX30V.

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A850 and HX30V is 54 and 90 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A850 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A850 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony A850 will produce greater detail with its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older A850 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography info
Sony HX30V Portrait photography info
72
focusing manually
MP count high (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography highlights
Sony HX30V Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
55
environment proof
MP count high (25MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (254g)
good megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Time Lapse recording
50
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A850
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
9
can't record video
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
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Sony A850 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-04-15 2012-02-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6048 x 4032 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 922k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Pricing at release $0 $420