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Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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 RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Newer Model is Sony RX1R II
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Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sony A850 and Sony RX1R, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A850 (25MP) and the RX1R (24MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor size (Full frame).

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The A850 was announced 4 years before the RX1R and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the A850 scores vs the RX1R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony RX1R

 A850 RX1R 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A850

 RX1R A850 
LaunchedJune 2013April 2010Fresher by 38 months
Display resolution1229k922kCrisper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony RX1R

 A850 RX1R 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A850 provides outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1R has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A850 and Sony RX1R in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A850 vs the RX1R.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A850 and RX1R is 54 and 79 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The photograph below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A850 and RX1R.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony A850 to deliver more detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1R Portrait photography information
72
manual focus
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
82
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A850
Street photography with Sony RX1R
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
very good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography information
Sony RX1R Sports photography information
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
53
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (270 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography info
Sony RX1R Travel photography info
55
weather proof
excellent MP (25MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
62
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (270 shots)
heavier than competitors (482g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A850
Landscape photography with Sony RX1R
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
no liveview
doesn't have Timelapse mode
66
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (270 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A850
Vlogging with Sony RX1R
9
no video
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors (482 grams)
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Sony A850 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Category Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-04-15 2013-06-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6048 x 4032 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 pounds) 482g (1.06 pounds)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 91
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.6
DXO Low light rating 1415 2537
Other
Battery life 880 photos 270 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two One
Launch pricing $0 $2,798