Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

73

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
Nikon D5100

62

Runner-up

Nikon D5100

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

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 169 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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Significantly smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 895 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,400 cheaper (5.8x less)
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 3.2"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 2x larger viewfinder
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
Around 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 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,415 ISO vs 1,183 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A850 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 184 ms vs 273 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 880 shots vs 660 shots
Help
More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
62 vs 73
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

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-2
votes
by Hassan-Wehbe last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony DSLR-A580

I am a beginner with a good background in cameras and expert in computers and multimedia processin...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

"Both are good cameras, for different reasons. If it was me I would buy the Nikon D5100, and use th..."

0
votes
by Brooke-Baker this month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

I need to be able to play around with low and high light situations, take beautiful still shots ...

0
votes
by David-Brown last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

Beginner, looking to get first DSLR.  A major concern is whether Canon or Nikon has better avail...

0
votes
by augfig last month
Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

We will take pictures of sons at home, on the farm etc. We like making movies too and taking pic...

0
votes
by desy-boo last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony SLT A65

Hello, I am having trouble figuring out if I want to stick with the Sony or if I want to go with...

4 people recommend the Sony SLT A65:

" A65 is much better than D5100 Has a OLED viewfinder (the best of viewfinders) More dinamic r..."

" The Sony has a much bigger view finder, which helps a lot when composing shots. Sure, the Nikon..."

"If i was you id when with nikon most there camera bodies how very little image noise at 1600 and 3..."

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

" its all about ISO and better GLASS"

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D5100:23.5 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D5100:4 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
D5100:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$698 - $700 body only

$798 - $800 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 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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
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
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$598 body only

$729 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
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
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 focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Live view Has live view
Movie format Shoots movies
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
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

appearance

Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D5100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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