Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

83

"the EOS 5D Mark II has an awful lot to recommend it to the serious photographer."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's overall-performance
"the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality - especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.71x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

81

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Color depth
Great color depth
23.8 bits
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.74x
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
High true resolution
24.4 MP
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II

Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,815 ISO vs 1,415 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
More than 2x more lenses available
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
30% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Size Smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The 5D Mark II's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
20% less delay when turning on
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,130.11 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $770 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 850 g vs 895 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark II

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 21 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.71x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 184 ms vs 206 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 5D Mark II
83 vs 81
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

advice

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0
votes
by Poti-Jouseevis-Potgieter last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures

3 people recommend the Canon 600D:

" If you are a "beginner at taking fotos and want to take the perfect pictures" I would recommend ..."

" If you are completely new to DSLR photography then having a 5D2 will give you a very steep learn..."

" The 5D Mark II is a far superior camera to the 600D.  But if you're going to be doing sport and ..."

0
votes
by Kostas-Nomikos last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 5D Mark II

Which is better for video shooting?

2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."

0
votes
by ZeroXR last week
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I am considering a future upgrade later on down the line between the 5D Mark II and the 60D. To ...

0
votes
by Ahmed-Khalil last month
Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 60D

I'm a beginner with such kind of cameras. I want to have my own camera to shoot my short films a...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
79.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
5D Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
DSLR-A850:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark II:23.7 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
5D Mark II:0.71x
DSLR-A850:0.74x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
5D Mark II:21 MP
DSLR-A850:24.4 MP
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
5D Mark II:850 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Size Fairly small Help
5D Mark II:152x114x75 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
5D Mark II:$2,130.11
DSLR-A850:$2,899.99
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
Focus points Few focus points Help
5D Mark II:9
DSLR-A850:19
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
98%
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
5D Mark II:850 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Lens availability More lenses available
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability More lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Pro DSLR

$2,893 body only

Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$949 with 55-200mm lens

Live view Has live view
Movie format Shoots movies
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Sensor size Much smaller sensor

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Kselle87 (8:24 AM, November 06, 2011)
the MSRP is 2,000 on the Sony a850. Get it right
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:31 PM, March 19, 2011)
Fixed, thanks!
 
LP1994 (2:56 PM, March 19, 2011)
a850 has got cmos not ccd...........................