Sony A850 vs Sony W530

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sony A850 vs Sony W530, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and W530 (14MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and W530 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The A850 was released 8 months prior to the W530 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A850 scores against the W530 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530. The complete galleries are provided at Sony A850 Gallery & Sony W530 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A850 has got 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) whilst the Sony W530 has proportions of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Sony A850 vs Sony W530 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the A850 and the W530.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A850 and W530 is 54 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The picture below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A850 and W530.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A850 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A850 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged A850 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.