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Sony A850 vs Sony RX10

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Successor is Sony RX10 II
Photography Glossary

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Sony A850 and Sony RX10, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and RX10 (1") have different sensor sizes.

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The A850 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the RX10 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the A850 matches up vs the RX10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony RX10

 A850 RX10 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Sony A850

 RX10 A850 
AnnouncedMarch 2014April 2010More recent by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1290k922kClearer display (+368k dot)

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony RX10

 A850 RX10 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A850 comes with outside 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) while the Sony RX10 has measurements of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Sony A850 and Sony RX10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the A850 versus the RX10.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A850 and RX10 is 54 and 58 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out specifications. The photograph below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and RX10.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A850 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A850 will provide greater detail due to its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older A850 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX10 Portrait photography factors
72
focusing manually
MP count amazing (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
70
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography advice
Sony RX10 Street photography advice
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
72
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Sports photography camera
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
weather proof
good battery power (420 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proof
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
58
good battery power (420 shots)
weather proof
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
no liveview feature
lack of Time Lapse recording
63
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
weather proof
good battery power (420 CIPA)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging details
Sony RX10 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony RX10
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Type Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-04-15 2014-03-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6048 x 4032 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dots 1,290k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 813 grams (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 69
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.6
DXO Low light score 1415 474
Other
Battery life 880 photographs 420 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage 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 2 Single
Launch pricing $0 $698