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Sony A850 vs Sony W730

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Released April 2010
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Photography Glossary

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Sony A850 vs Sony W730, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and W730 (16MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and W730 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The A850 was brought out 3 years before the W730 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the A850 grades versus the W730 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony W730

 A850 W730 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony A850

 W730 A850 
RevealedJanuary 2013April 2010Newer by 33 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony W730

 A850 W730 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A850 features outer measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony W730 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A850 vs Sony W730 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the A850 against the W730.

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A850 and W730 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specifications. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and W730.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A850 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony A850 will render greater detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged A850 will be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography info
Sony W730 Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
MP count amazing (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
35
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography advice
Sony W730 Street photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (122 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography features
Sony W730 Sports photography features
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography details
Sony W730 Travel photography details
55
weather proof
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competitors in class (122 grams)
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W730 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count amazing (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no liveview
no Timelapse function
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging advice
Sony W730 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (122g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony A850 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony W730
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-04-15 2013-01-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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
Max resolution 6048 x 4032 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 lb) 122g (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 shots 240 shots
Type of battery 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
Type of storage 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 2 Single
Launch cost $0 $138