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Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Introduced March 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX10 II
  • New Model is Sony RX10 IV
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Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Sony A850 versus Sony RX10 III, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and RX10 III (20MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and RX10 III (1") possess different sensor sizing.

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The A850 was launched 7 years before the RX10 III and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A850 scores against the RX10 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony RX10 III

 A850 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony A850

 RX10 III A850 
IntroducedMarch 2016April 2010More recent by 72 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony RX10 III

 A850 RX10 III 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony A850 provides outside dimensions 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 III has measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") and a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Look at the Sony A850 versus Sony RX10 III in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the A850 compared to the RX10 III.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A850 and RX10 III is 54 and 53 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A850 and RX10 III.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A850 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A850 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older A850 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography highlights
72
you can focus manually
excellent MP (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography advice
Sony RX10 III Street photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no moving screen
64
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
heavier than competitors in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Sports photography camera
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
70
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery power (420 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proof
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
55
great battery power (420 shots)
weather sealing
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (1,051 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography information
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Timelapse recording
63
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great battery power (420 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 III Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
28
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic socket
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors in class (1,051 grams)
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Sony A850 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony RX10 III
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Type Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-04-15 2016-03-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AEB
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 - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 895g (1.97 lb) 1051g (2.32 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.6
DXO Low light rating 1415 472
Other
Battery life 880 shots 420 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
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
Retail price $0 $1,398