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Sony A850 vs Sony WX5

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Overview

Let's look closer at the Sony A850 versus Sony WX5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and WX5 (12MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and WX5 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The A850 was announced 2 months earlier than the WX5 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summation of how the A850 grades versus the WX5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony WX5

 A850 WX5 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution922k461kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Sony A850

 WX5 A850 

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony WX5

 A850 WX5 
IntroducedApril 2010July 2010Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A850 features exterior dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony WX5 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") having a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A850 versus Sony WX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the A850 vs the WX5.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A850 and WX5 is 54 and 95 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The picture below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A850 and WX5.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A850 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony A850 will show greater detail with its extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX5 Portrait photography factors
72
manual focus
megapixel count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Street photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography info
Sony WX5 Sports photography info
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A850
Travel photography with Sony WX5
55
weather sealing
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
58
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography info
Sony WX5 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
no Timelapse mode
37
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
32
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony WX5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-04-15 2010-07-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6048 x 4032 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.8 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 895 gr (1.97 lb) 146 gr (0.32 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Two 1
Launch price $0 $250