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Sony A850 vs Sony TX20

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 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
  • Announced April 2010
Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Sony A850 and Sony TX20, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both built by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and TX20 (16MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and TX20 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The A850 was unveiled 22 months earlier than the TX20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A850 grades vs the TX20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony TX20

 A850 TX20 

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Sony A850

 TX20 A850 
IntroducedFebruary 2012April 2010Fresher by 22 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony TX20

 A850 TX20 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution922k922kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Sony A850 enjoys 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) while the Sony TX20 has specifications of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A850 and Sony TX20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the A850 against the TX20.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A850 and TX20 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and TX20.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A850 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony A850 will deliver more detail having an extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography advice
Sony TX20 Portrait photography advice
72
has manual focus
great MP (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
40
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography information
Sony TX20 Street photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Sports photography camera
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
50
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery pack (250 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography info
Sony TX20 Travel photography info
55
environment proof
great MP (25MP)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
72
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
weather proofing
has touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Landscape photography camera
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
no liveview feature
no Time Lapse recording
52
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
good battery pack (250 per charge)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX20 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
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Sony A850 vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony TX20
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2010-04-15 2012-02-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6048 x 4032 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 lb) 133g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Pricing at release $0 $330