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Sony A850 vs Sony WX50

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Revealed April 2010
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Sony A850 vs Sony WX50, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and WX50 (16MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and WX50 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The A850 was brought out 21 months prior to the WX50 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A850 matches up against the WX50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony WX50

 A850 WX50 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k461kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony A850

 WX50 A850 
RevealedJanuary 2012April 2010More recent by 21 months

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony WX50

 A850 WX50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A850 has got outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony WX50 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the A850 and the WX50.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A850 and WX50 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A850 and WX50.

Clearly, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A850 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Sony A850 will resolve greater detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A850 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX50 Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
no articulating screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Sports photography camera
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography information
Sony WX50 Travel photography information
55
weather proof
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
69
lighter than average (117 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A850 Landscape photography info
Sony WX50 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count fantastic (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
does not have liveview
lack of Time Lapse recording
38
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging factors
Sony WX50 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
35
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (117g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony WX50
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-04-15 2012-01-30
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 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
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 922k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 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 1
Price at launch $0 $250