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Sony A850 vs Sony W560

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Sony W560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Sony A850 versus Sony W560, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and W560 (14MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and W560 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The A850 was released 8 months before the W560 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A850 matches up versus the W560 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony W560

 A850 W560 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W560 over the Sony A850

 W560 A850 
RevealedJanuary 2011April 2010More recent by 8 months

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony W560

 A850 W560 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony A850 has outside dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) while the Sony W560 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Sony A850 versus Sony W560 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the A850 vs the W560.

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A850 and W560 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A850 and W560.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A850 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The older A850 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography factors
Sony W560 Portrait photography factors
72
focusing manually
MP count great (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography advice
Sony W560 Street photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography features
Sony W560 Sports photography features
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography features
Sony W560 Travel photography features
55
weather proof
MP count great (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A850
Landscape photography with Sony W560
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
does not have liveview
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
Sony W560 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony W560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony W560
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2010-04-15 2011-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 895 grams (1.97 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media 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
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch pricing $0 $139