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

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

100
"The original 5D was the first 'affordable' and lightweight full frame camera, and set a standard for low noise at high ISO settings that remains competitive three years later."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's iso-noise
"In addition the adoption of high precision split-level alignment of the magnesium-alloy external covers, high precision dial construction and external rubber grip covers, has improved the camera's dust and water resistance."
dpreview.com | talking about the 5D Mark II's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,815 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
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

94

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
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

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark II
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
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 30% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 152x114x75 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $2,330.54 vs $2,800.98
Help
 The best price we've seen is $470 cheaper (around 20% 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
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.71x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
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
100 vs 94
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 5D Mark II
 Canon EOS 5D Mark II vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
SonyAlpha DSLR-A850
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
15
21
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
13
20
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
10
26
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
10
26
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
11
23
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
11
24
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
5D Mark II:1,815 ISO
DSLR-A850:1,415 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
79.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark II:23.7 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
5D Mark II:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
DSLR-A850:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
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
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
5D Mark II:920k dots
DSLR-A850:922k dots
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
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
5D Mark II:3.9 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
5D Mark II:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
98%
Focus points Few focus points Help
5D Mark II:9
DSLR-A850:19
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
5D Mark II:850 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
5D Mark II:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
5D Mark II:206 ms
DSLR-A850:184 ms

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm 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
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 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
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 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 Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D700 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the D800 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is significantly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 - $1,600 body only

$1,998 - $2,049 with 16-50mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the SLT A77 vs the EOS 5D Mark II
Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the EOS 5D Mark II

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$849 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

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...........................