Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs.
In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony A850 and Nikon D780 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A850 has external dimensions of 156 x 117 x 82 mm (6.14 x 4.61 x 3.23″) and weighs 895 g (1.97 lb / 31.57 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D780 has external dimensions of 144 x 116 x 76 mm (5.67 x 4.57 x 2.99″) and weighs 840 g (1.85 lb / 29.63 oz) (including batteries).
Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony A850 and the Nikon D780. Nikon D780 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 12mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Sony A850.
Here is the back view size comparison of the Sony A850 and Nikon D780.
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A850 and Nikon D780.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
Nikon D780 is 55g lighter than the Sony A850 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.
Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony A850 and Nikon D780 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.
Weather Sealing
Both the A850 and the D780 have weather sealings in their bodies, making them resistant to water and dust.
LCD Screen Size and Features
Nikon D780's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A850's 3" screen.
In addition to the size advantage, Nikon D780 LCD screen also has a
Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Sony A850 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to D780.