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Sony A850 vs Sony W830

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump 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 W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Sony A850 versus Sony W830, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both produced by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and W830 (20MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and W830 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The A850 was brought out 4 years earlier than the W830 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the A850 grades versus the W830 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony W830

 A850 W830 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Sony A850

 W830 A850 
LaunchedJanuary 2014April 2010More recent by 45 months

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony W830

 A850 W830 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A850 features outer dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony W830 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Sony A850 versus Sony W830 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A850 against the W830.

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A850 and W830 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The graphic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A850 and W830.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A850 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony A850 will give you more detail having its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography features
Sony W830 Portrait photography features
72
focusing manually
amazing sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
38
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography highlights
Sony W830 Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
59
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography information
Sony W830 Sports photography information
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography info
Sony W830 Travel photography info
55
weather sealing
amazing sensor resolution (25MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
67
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography advice
Sony W830 Landscape photography advice
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
amazing sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
does not have liveview
does not have Time Lapse function
41
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W830 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
32
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony W830
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2010-04-15 2014-01-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
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
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - H.264
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 895g (1.97 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 1415 not tested
Other
Battery life 880 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $0 $128