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Sony A850 vs Sony QX30

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Sony A850 vs Sony QX30, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Lens-style and they are both created by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and QX30 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The A850 was revealed 5 years before the QX30 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the A850 scores versus the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony QX30

 A850 QX30 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution922k0kCrisper screen (+922k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A850

 QX30 A850 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014April 2010More modern by 53 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony QX30

 A850 QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A850 comes with exterior measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the A850 compared to the QX30.

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A850 and QX30 is 54 and 91 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The image underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and QX30.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A850 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A850 will resolve more detail because of its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A850 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography info
Sony QX30 Portrait photography info
72
manual focus
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
38
good resolution (20MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography factors
Sony QX30 Street photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
62
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography features
Sony QX30 Sports photography features
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A850
Travel photography with Sony QX30
55
environment sealing
MP count amazing (25MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (200 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX30 Landscape photography highlights
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Time Lapse function
39
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A850
Vlogging with Sony QX30
9
lack of video recording
35
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
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Sony A850 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Introduced 2010-04-15 2014-09-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz X
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 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6048 x 4032 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" -
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless None
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" 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 200 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Two Single
Cost at release $0 $348