Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

81

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,415 ISO
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
Canon EOS 60D

71

Runner-up

Canon EOS 60D

"Excellent image quality up to ISO settings unthinkable just one camera generation ago"
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's image-quality
"It may have turned its back on the semi-pro, but the 60D is still a camera that should enthuse the enthusiasts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D

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
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
More than 2.5x more lenses available
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.3 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Size Smaller 145x106x79 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 60D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1100 shots vs 880 shots
Help
Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Cheaper $848.00 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,052 cheaper (3.4x less)
Weight Lighter 755 g vs 895 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The 60D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 66.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,415 ISO vs 813 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A850 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.59x
Help
Around 60% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 17.9 MP
Help
Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 184 ms vs 253 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
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
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 96%
Help
Almost the same
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 60D Canon EOS 60D
71 vs 81
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
60D:12,800 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
60D: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
60D:145x106x79 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
60D:$848.00
DSLR-A850:$2,899.99
Weight Light weight Help
60D:755 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
Focus points Few focus points Help
60D:9
DSLR-A850:19
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
60D:9
DSLR-A850:1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
60D:5.3 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
60D:1100 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
60D:813 ISO
DSLR-A850:1,415 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Thickness Is thinner
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$898 body only

$998 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Size Smaller
Weight Lighter
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Battery life Shorter battery life
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth

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
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,199 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Live view Has live view
Image stabilization No image stabilization
True resolution Much lower true resolution
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 60D Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 60D Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 60D Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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