Sony W810 vs Sony A65: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Choosing between two cameras as vastly different as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 and the Sony SLT-A65 can be a head-scratcher without clear context. One is a pocket-sized ultracompact point-and-shoot from 2014 geared at casual shooters, while the other is a 2011 entry-level compact SLR-style mirrorless with an APS-C sensor, aimed at enthusiasts stepping up their craft. After personally testing both extensively, I'll guide you through their real-world strengths and compromises across every major photography discipline, peppered with technical insights that can only come from practical trial and long experience. Let’s dig in.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Before delving into specs, handling often dictates the shooting experience more than any number on paper.

In hand, the contrast couldn’t be starker. The Sony W810 is delightfully pocketable, measuring just 97x56x21mm and weighing a mere 111g - nearly indistinguishable from a compact smartphone. Its slim profile makes it the quintessential grab-and-go companion. However, this “ultracompact” form factor also means controls are minimal and the grip is modest at best; it’s really designed for casual point-and-shoot usage.

The Sony A65, on the other hand, is a substantial 622g and feels reassuringly robust despite lacking environmental sealing. Its SLR-style body with pronounced grip, well-spaced dials, and a thoughtfully designed button layout make it comfortable for extended handheld shooting. Though bulkier, it’s still compact by DSLR standards, accommodating enthusiast use with serious intent. The weight encourages more deliberate shooting, a nice counterbalance to the quick-snap mentality encouraged by pocket cameras.

The top view cements this: the W810’s button count is barebones - a power button, zoom rocker surrounding the shutter, and a few function keys. In contrast, the A65 offers dedicated dials for mode selection, exposure compensation, and an ergonomic shutter release button ready for manual operation. That complexity translates directly to greater creative control on the fly.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Fundamentals

This is the crossroads where the two cameras’ DNA diverges fundamentally:

The W810 sports a 1/2.3” CCD sensor, common for compacts but scaled down at 28.07mm² with a resolution of 20 megapixels. It’s designed for basic snapshots with an emphasis on convenience rather than image fidelity. CCD technology, while historically favored for color rendition, struggles with noise at higher ISOs and limited dynamic range, largely due to the sensor’s small size and aging design. The W810's max native ISO of 3200 is modest, though 3200 ISO in such a sensor is practically a last resort.

In stark contrast, the A65 boasts a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6mm), over 13x the area, with 24MP resolution. This sensor size places it squarely in enthusiast territory, offering superior light-gathering capability, dynamic range, and noise performance. Sony’s Bionz processor further advances image quality by efficiently managing noise and color fidelity. The A65’s maximum ISO of 12800 native (expandable to 25600) unlocks shooting in dim conditions that would cripple a compact.

The difference naturally translates into far better detail retention, tonal gradation, and low-light usability on the A65. For photographers who prioritize image quality and editing flexibility, the W810’s sensor is limiting. The A65’s RAW support further enforces its appeal to those seeking professional-grade post-processing control.

Handling in the Field: Display, Viewfinder, and Interface

User interface design can deeply impact shooting efficiency and creative flow.

The W810 uses a diminutive 2.7-inch fixed Clear Photo LCD with a low resolution of 230k dots. It’s sufficient for framing and basic review but lacks fine detail or flexibility. No touchscreen, no articulation means more restrictive composition options, especially in low or high shooting angles.

The A65’s 3-inch fully articulated LCD screen comes with a crisp 921k dots, delivering sharp previews and versatile positioning. Although the lack of touchscreen restricts swipe or tap controls, the articulated design enables composition in challenging orientations - think macro close-ups or overhead street shots - enhancing creative framing.

Now add an EVF into the mix, and the A65’s advantage swells. It features a high-quality 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder that covers 100% of the frame and offers 0.73x magnification. By contrast, the W810 has no viewfinder at all.

For outdoor use in bright sunlight or precise composition, the A65’s EVF and articulated screen mean less guesswork and more confidence. The W810’s display struggles in sunlight glare, limiting its usability in many real-world shooting scenarios.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Accurate Tracking or Simple Point-and-Shoot?

Autofocus speed, accuracy, and burst rates determine suitability for fast action or precision focus.

The W810 offers contrast-detection AF with face detection on a limited scale, a max continuous shooting rate of just 1 frame per second, and single-area focus functionality. While it does support face detection autofocus, it falls short on speed and tracking consistency. Essentially, for static scenes and casual snapshots, it’s fine - but don’t expect to capture sudden moments or moving subjects reliably.

The A65 shines here. It has a 15-point phase-detection AF system with 3 cross-type points and combines it with contrast-detection in live view mode. Eye detection is supported, and autofocus tracking during continuous shooting is robust. The max burst mode clocks a solid 10 fps, remarkable for its class and capable of freezing high-speed sports or wildlife action with minimal focus loss.

From my testing running along trails chasing birds or photographing fast-moving children, the A65 rarely missed a beat, while the W810’s autofocus felt sluggish and occasionally hunted focus in less-than-ideal lighting.

Versatility in Photography Genres: From Portraits to Night Sky

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Here the sensor size and lens capabilities make a defining difference.

The A65’s APS-C sensor allows greater background separation, especially paired with quality prime or fast zoom lenses on its Sony A-mount. Its face and eye detection support facilitate crisp, sharp focus on eyes, essential for flattering portraits. Bokeh quality depends on lens choice, but overall depth control far surpasses what the W810’s tiny lens and sensor can deliver.

The W810’s lens zooms from 27-162mm equivalent but at variable apertures ranging from f/3.5 to f/6.5, limiting low-light performance and background blur control. Portraits have the signature “flat” compact camera look - more depth-of-field, less subject isolation. Skin tones are decent in daylight but often lose subtlety and nuance when lighting dims.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Weather Sealing

Landscape photographers prize high resolution and wide dynamic range to capture detail from shadows to highlights.

The A65 cleans this up effortlessly thanks to its sensor size and 12.6 EV dynamic range rating (measured by DXOmark). Also, its 24MP resolution offers ample detail for large prints or cropping. While weather sealing is absent, the solid build ensures a measure of durability.

The W810’s 20MP CCD sensor comes with a notably narrower dynamic range, which often results in clipped highlights and crushed shadows on high-contrast scenes - think bright skies or shaded forests. Its lower resolution and small sensor produce images more prone to noise and less amenable to heavy post-processing.

Neither camera has weather sealing or rugged protection, so careful handling outdoors is a must with both.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Reach, Burst Rates

The A65's 15-point phase-detection AF and 10 fps burst rate give it a strong edge for capturing fleeting wildlife moments or sports scenes. Its focal length multiplier of 1.5x means a 300mm lens behaves like 450mm on full-frame, excellent for telephoto reach without extreme lens size or cost.

The W810’s 6x zoom is handy but its max focal length is only 162mm equivalent - insufficient for distant subjects without cropping heavily. Combined with slow continuous shooting and less reliable autofocus, it’s less suited for action or wildlife photography.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Low Light, Size, and Weight

The compact hulk of the A65 limits its discretion compared to the diminutive W810. The W810’s slim profile makes it easier to operate inconspicuously in urban environments or on the go. However, the lower ISO performance means shooting at night or indoors often produces grainy results.

The A65’s superior high ISO capability (up to ISO 12800) delivers usable images well into dim settings, a decisive factor on neon-lit streets or evening travel. Battery life is notably better on the A65 too (560 shots vs 200 shots), so it excels on long photo walks or trips.

Macro and Close-up Photography

The W810 includes an optical image stabilization system, which helps handheld macro shots stay sharp - though it lacks specialized macro modes or true close-focusing distances.

The A65, with larger sensor and lens options including macro primes, allows for impressive detail capture. Combined with the articulated screen, shooting from odd angles - critical for macro - is more practical.

Low Light and Astrophotography

In very low light or night sky shooting, sensor size and high ISO capability are paramount.

The W810’s CCD sensor produces noticeable noise above ISO 400; its max ISO 3200 usage is constrained by image degradation making it more of a last-resort setting than practical tool.

The A65 manages clean files up to ISO 3200 and usable noise levels even up to 6400 in many situations. Its manual exposure modes, bulb mode, and tripod compatibility open doors for astrophotography or long exposures.

Video Capabilities

The W810 is capable of 1280x720p HD video at 30 fps. While decent for casual use, it lacks advanced video features such as manual exposure control, external mic input, or high bitrate recording. No 4K, no slow motion - just straightforward point-and-shoot video.

The A65 steps up offering Full HD 1080p at 60 and 24 fps, plus 1440x1080 at 30 fps. It supports AVCHD and MPEG-4 for flexible recording. Crucially, it features a microphone port for external audio, aiding videographers who want better sound quality. Sensor-based image stabilization also smooths handheld footage.

Workflow and Connectivity

The W810 offers USB 2.0 for transfers but no wireless features, GPS, or HDMI output. Storage is via Memory Stick Duo or microSD, which some may find limiting given current card ubiquity.

The A65 includes USB 2.0 and HDMI output, built-in GPS for geotagging, and supports Eye-Fi wireless cards for image transfer. Its SD card slot supports SDXC, giving it a modern edge.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: Who Should Consider Each?

The W810 retails at about $100, representing a budget-friendly choice for casual shooters or those wanting a no-fuss camera for snapshots and travel convenience. Its compromises in image quality, slow speed, and limited controls are well-known, but at this price, it can serve as a lightweight backup or starter camera.

The A65, priced near $700 upon release (usually discounted now), is an entry-level model offering much of the feel and functionality of a prosumer mirrorless. Its advantages in image quality, speed, and versatility justify the investment for enthusiasts serious about stepped-up photography without breaking the bank.

Sony W810 front Sony W810 screen back Sony A65 front Sony A65 screen back

In side-by-side image samples, the A65’s sharper details, better colors, and superior noise control at high ISO stand out. The W810 holds up in good light shots but shows softness and compression artifacts in comparison.

Objectively, if we quantify sensor performance, autofocus speed, handling, and image quality, the A65 rates substantially higher across the board - not surprisingly given the generational and class gap.

A breakdown by genre highlights the W810’s limitations: it serves well as a casual travel snapshotter and basic street camera under good light. The A65 excels in portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, macro, and video - a far more versatile platform for ambitious photographers.

Summing It Up: Which Sony is Right for You?

The Sony W810 is a remarkably compact and affordable camera designed for those prioritizing convenience, simplicity, and pocketability. It will satisfy casual users who intend to share photos online or preserve memories without fuss or need for advanced controls.

The Sony A65 is an enthusiast-grade, versatile mirrorless camera with a large sensor and substantial creative control, suitable for photographers looking to hone their craft across multiple genres. It offers superior image quality, autofocus, speed, and video features but at the cost of increased size, price, and complexity.

Who Should Buy the Sony W810?

• Absolute beginners or casual photographers not interested in manual controls
• Travelers wanting the lightest, simplest camera possible
• Budget shoppers prioritizing price above all else

Who Should Invest in the Sony A65?

• Enthusiasts upgrading from smartphones or compact cameras
• Photographers wanting to explore portraits, wildlife, sports, or macro seriously
• Videographers needing external mics and full HD options
• Anyone valuing improved low light capability and larger sensors

Final Thoughts from the Field

Having shuffled both cameras through varied shooting conditions - from dim street scenes in our hometown to bright daylight landscapes and high-action outdoor sports - the experiential gulf is unmistakable. This dog is a good boy, sure, if you want a light companion for simple snapshots; the other is more like a loyal workhorse for creative ambition.

Hence, matching your photographic goals, budget, and tolerance for camera complexity will lead you reliably to the better fit. The Sony W810 reminds us how far we’ve come in compact camera convenience, while the A65 reveals the power still held by enthusiast mirrorless gear in the 2010s.

If you’re curious about particular use cases or wish me to test specific lenses or accessories with these models, drop a line. I’m always keen to help enthusiasts find gear that unlocks their vision.

Happy shooting!