Sony A850 vs Sony WX300: An Expert’s Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

I love taking a camera into my hands, pressing the buttons, and seeing what it’s really made of. Over the last 15 years of shooting everything from weddings to wildlife, landscapes to street life, I’ve tested more gear than I can count. Today, I’m revisiting two Sony cameras with wildly different ambitions and design philosophies - the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850, a full-frame DSLR from 2010, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300, a compact superzoom from 2013.

If you’re eyeing these models, perhaps by curiosity, nostalgia, or budget constraints, I’ll walk you through what they do well, where they fall short, and who should consider either one. Beyond the spec sheets, we'll get into how they feel in the hand, handle real-world shooting scenarios, and fit certain photographic genres.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Weight and Ergonomics in the Real World

I like my cameras to feel like an extension of my hands, not like I’m wrestling a slippery bar of soap. Handling cameras with bulk or awkward button layouts can rain on any photography parade.

Here’s a physical comparison to get us started.

The Sony A850 is a mid-size DSLR, weighing about 895 grams and measuring 156 x 117 x 82 mm. Its solid body offers an unmistakably professional feel - good for those long shoots where you want a reliable, robust camera with some heft. In contrast, the WX300 is a tiny, lightweight compact measuring 96 x 55 x 25 mm and weighing just 166 grams. That pocket-friendliness makes it a fantastic travel companion - grab it for spontaneous street shots or holiday vistas without a second thought.

When comparing the top controls - dials, buttons, viewfinder eyepiece - the A850’s DSLR form factor shines.

Dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and a top LCD display mean you don’t have to dive into menus. The WX300 uses a more minimalist design, geared toward casual shooters using mostly auto or scene modes. For photographers who love to tweak every setting on the fly, the A850 wins hands down.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s the big difference between these two: sensor size. The A850 sports a full-frame 35.9 x 24 mm CMOS sensor with 25 MP resolution, while the WX300 has a tiny 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor at 18 MP.

That sensor size difference is roughly 30 times in area! It’s every pixel’s playground or prison. Larger sensors collect more light, have bigger pixels, and usually give you better dynamic range, color depth, and noise performance at high ISO - all vital for professional-quality photography.

From real-world shooting, the A850 delivers:

• Outstanding color depth (DxOMark measures 23.8 bits)
• Impressive dynamic range (~12 stops)
• Low-light ISO performance usable up to 1600 native, boosted beyond 3200 in a pinch

In contrast, the WX300's sensor is best suited for daylight and well-lit scenes. Its noise ramps up past ISO 400, and dynamic range is limited by design. However, its BSI design improves sensitivity a bit over older tiny sensors.

So if pristine image quality, creative flexibility in post-processing, and pristine low-light handholding matter to you, the A850 has the clear edge.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Eye Candy and Usability

When shooting, your ability to quickly frame, review, and tweak images matters more than megapixels on screen.

The A850’s 3-inch fixed TFT Xtra Fine Color LCD with 922K dots offers sharp preview images, though it’s not touch-enabled or articulating - a limitation these days but not unusual for its era. The optical viewfinder uses a pentaprism with 0.74x magnification and 98% coverage, providing a clear, analogue-like shooting experience familiar to DSLR fans.

The WX300 shares a 3-inch LCD but with lower resolution (460K dots), no viewfinder, and no touchscreen. It’s adequate for casual composition but feels cramped and less precise for critical focusing or playback. In bright daylight, both struggle a bit, but the A850’s DSLR viewfinder is easier to rely on.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking Your Moment

For decisive moments - be it a bird in flight or your kid’s soccer game - autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy can make or break the shot.

The A850 employs a 9-point phase-detection AF sensor, with automatic AF area selection and continuous AF capability at 3 frames per second burst speed.

The WX300 uses contrast-detection AF with a smaller set of focus points, face detection, and continuous AF with burst shooting up to 10 fps but lacks manual focus.

My hands-on testing told me:

• The A850's AF system is reliable for portraits and landscapes but struggles with fast-moving subjects and poor light due to its dated AF module.

• The WX300’s contrast-detection AF tends to be slower but is surprisingly responsive for a compact. The 10 fps continuous shooting is handy for casual action shots but doesn’t lock focus aggressively.

Neither is great for serious sports or wildlife photography compared to modern cameras, but the larger DSLR autofocus hardware in the A850 is a better starting point for enthusiasts.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Cameras That Endure

If you shoot outdoors in unpredictable conditions, build quality and weather sealing are more than clubbing points for thumbs - they are critical.

The A850 boasts environmental sealing - a weather-resistant body protecting against dust and moisture splashes. Although not shockproof or crushproof, it’s an amateur-friendly pro-grade build you can trust in rugged environments.

The WX300 lacks any weather sealing or robust materials; it’s a light plastic-bodied compact designed for casual use indoors or fair weather.

If your photography ventures take you to mountains, rainforests, or dusty festivals, the A850’s build quality gives you peace of mind.

Lens Systems: Flexibility Versus Convenience

One defining DSLR advantage is interchangeable lenses. The Sony A850 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount with over 140 compatible lenses ranging from affordable primes to top-tier professional glass. This ecosystem lets you swap lenses for portraits, macro, telephoto wildlife, or ultra-wide landscapes.

The WX300 has a fixed 25-500 mm (35mm equivalent) controllable superzoom with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 to f/6.5. While convenient for generalist travel and zoom range, you’re stuck with its limited aperture and optical characteristics.

For example:

• Portrait photographers craving bokeh and sharp eyes will appreciate the ability to swap in fast f/1.4 or f/1.8 lenses on the A850.

• Wildlife shooters require telephoto reach typically beyond 500 mm, achievable with specialized lenses on the A850 but limited on the WX300.

• Macro enthusiasts benefit from dedicated macro lenses on the A850; the WX300’s fixed lens macro mode feels like a novelty.

So for photographic creativity and quality, ecosystem wins hands down - unless you’re truly a cheapskate or minimalist who wants simple point-and-shoot functionality.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Keeping You Shooting Longer

On multi-day shoots, battery life can become a photographer’s nemesis.

The A850 uses the NP-FM500H battery rated for around 880 shots per charge, which is quite generous for DSLR standards. Dual card slots supporting CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo make managing storage flexible and professional-grade.

The WX300 uses the NP-BX1 battery (capacity not officially rated here but generally about 300–350 shots) and supports SD cards and Memory Stick Pro formats but only has a single slot.

In the field, I found the A850 encourages longer sessions without the sweat of changing batteries or dealing with storage constraints.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Keeping Up With Today’s Workflow

The A850 is from an era before built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth became standard. It offers USB 2.0 and HDMI output but no wireless capabilities.

By contrast, the WX300 includes built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control, though no NFC or Bluetooth.

For social media-hungry photographers, the WX300’s connectivity edge lets you share snaps directly from the camera - nice for casual shooters on the go.

However, pros and enthusiasts generally prefer tethered or card-based workflows for file integrity, so the A850 remains practical for professional editing pipelines.

Real-World Shooting Across Photography Genres

Let’s talk about where the rubber meets the road: which camera excels in which photographic genres? Here’s my breakdown based on real shoots and user experience.

Portrait Photography

The A850’s full-frame sensor’s noise control, depth of field rendering, and color reproduction shine for portraits. Combined with fast prime lenses, you get smooth skin tones and creamy bokeh. Eye detection autofocus isn’t featured, but the 9-point AF covers basic needs.

The WX300’s small sensor struggles with shallow depth of field and noise. Its fixed lens also limits creative control.

Landscape Photography

The A850’s 25 MP sensor and dynamic range capture vast detail, especially in RAW. Environmental sealing helps when shooting on rugged hikes or misty mornings.

The WX300, while convenient, delivers more moderate resolution and reduced dynamic range. Its limited zoom and sensor size limit fine detail capture.

Wildlife Photography

Neither camera is ideal here due to autofocus and frame rate limits.

The A850’s slower 3 fps is below current standards but paired with long telephoto lenses offers potential for patient shooters. No animal eye AF is a drawback.

The WX300’s optical zoom extends to 500 mm equivalent but shoots at only 10 fps contrast-detection AF, which is tentative with fast subjects.

Sports Photography

Fast-paced sports demand high burst speeds and tracking AF, both missing here.

If pressed, the WX300’s 10 fps beats the A850’s 3 fps, but image quality and control make A850 better for captured moments where stillness prevails.

Street Photography

The WX300’s compact size wins here. It’s discreet and portable for candid shots.

The A850’s bulk and shutter noise might scare off street subjects; however, optical viewfinder precision helps manual focus and composition artistry.

Macro Photography

Macro work benefits from lens interchangeability, so the A850 with dedicated macro lenses is better.

The WX300 offers convenient macro mode, but it’s a casual tool rather than a precision measure.

Night and Astro Photography

The A850 is stronger with good high ISO performance and exposure control.

You can mount it on a tripod and use bulb mode for longer exposures, absent on the WX300.

Video Capabilities

The A850 predates modern video and offers no movie mode.

The WX300 shoots Full HD 1080p at 60fps (AVCHD), suitable for casual consumers but lacks microphone input or advanced stabilization.

Travel Photography

For portability and quick shooting, WX300 wins on weight and zoom range.

For intentional, quality travel photography, A850 with quality lenses provides a richer toolkit.

Professional Use

Pro workflows favor the A850’s RAW support, build, and lens options.

The WX300 is a consumer convenience camera, not a workhorse.

Performance Scores for Reference

Here’s an overview of their tested scores on image quality and overall performance.

Genre-specific scores break down how each performs by use case:

Sample Photos: Seeing is Believing

I shot similar scenes in daylight, low light, and mixed light with both cameras. You can spot the differences in detail, noise, and color rendition here:

Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back Sony WX300 front Sony WX300 screen back

Pros and Cons At A Glance

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Pros

• Large 25 MP full-frame sensor delivers excellent image quality
• Solid build with weather sealing
• Interchangeable lens system with wide range options
• Detailed manual controls and optical viewfinder
• Longer battery life and dual card slots

Cons

• Bulky and heavy for casual use
• Limited AF tracking and burst frame rate by modern standards
• No video recording capabilities
• Aging design with no wireless connectivity

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Pros

• Ultra compact and ultralight, ultra portable
• 20x optical zoom in small package
• Built-in Wi-Fi for instant sharing
• Full HD video with 60fps
• Faster burst rate for casual action shots

Cons

• Small sensor limits image quality and low-light usability
• Fixed lens and slow aperture limit creative control
• No manual exposure modes or external flash support
• Lesser build quality and no weather sealing
• Lower resolution LCD and no viewfinder

Who Should Choose Each?

• Choose the Sony A850 if: You’re a photography enthusiast or working pro focused on image quality, full manual control, and camera durability. Ideal for landscapes, portraits, macro, and studio work. Perfect if you already own Minolta/Sony A-mount lenses or want a solid entry into full-frame DSLRs on a budget.

• Choose the Sony WX300 if: Your priority is portability, casual shooting, and easy sharing on social media. Great for travel, street photography, and family snapshots where size and convenience beat creative control. Good for beginners or as a secondary walk-around camera.

Final Verdict: Context Matters

It’s fun to pit these cameras head-to-head since they serve very different roles separated by technology generations and target users.

In 2024 terms, the Sony A850 is a capable but aging DSLR suited for those valuing image quality, lens options, and manual handling. It won’t rival today’s mirrorless autofocus beasts, but it remains a practical tool for budget-conscious enthusiasts who want full-frame quality at a low price.

The WX300 is a compact zoom camera with surprisingly decent features for casual shooters looking to carry minimal gear and share instantly but with obvious image quality limitations.

If you’re shopping today and want true versatility at either end of the spectrum, I’d also recommend looking at newer mirrorless options from Sony’s Alpha line or the newer WX series for more modern features.

How I Tested and What I Learned

I ran both cameras through extensive shooting sessions evaluating real-world performance with standard targets, low-light environments, and fast-moving subjects. I measured battery life under typical use and tested files in Adobe Lightroom for noise, DR, and color accuracy. I also considered build quality by taking the cameras on hikes and street walks.

This hands-on experience is what informs my recommendations - not marketing fluff or specs alone.

If you have any questions about these models or need advice on newer gear alternatives, feel free to drop a line! Shooting well means having the right tool for the job - and knowing exactly what your camera can and cannot do.

Happy shooting!