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Sony A850 vs Sony TX30

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
42
Features
43
Overall
42

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Released July 2013
Photography Glossary

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Sony A850 versus Sony TX30, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are sold by Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and TX30 (18MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and TX30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The A850 was announced 4 years earlier than the TX30 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the A850 matches up vs the TX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony TX30

 A850 TX30 

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Sony A850

 TX30 A850 
ReleasedJuly 2013April 2010Fresher by 39 months
Screen dimensions3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k922kCrisper screen (+307k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony TX30

 A850 TX30 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Sony A850 comes with exterior 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 TX30 has specifications of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Sony A850 versus Sony TX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the A850 and the TX30.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A850 and TX30 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The photograph underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A850 and TX30.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A850 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A850 will produce greater detail with its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older A850 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A850
Portrait photography with Sony TX30
72
you can focus manually
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
38
you can focus manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography factors
Sony TX30 Street photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography info
Sony TX30 Sports photography info
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography factors
Sony TX30 Travel photography factors
55
weather sealing
resolution is high (25 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
69
weather proofing
good resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography advice
Sony TX30 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is high (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
does not have liveview
no Timelapse recording
51
you can focus manually
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3.3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A850
Vlogging with Sony TX30
9
no video recording
34
quite wide (26mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony TX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-04-15 2013-07-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.8
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.3 inch
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 141 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo -
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $0 $230