Nikon
D800
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A850

Nikon D800

100
Winner

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

81

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.74x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,415 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the DSLR-A850
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 79.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
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
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 24.4 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.4 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 42 ms vs 184 ms
Help
 4.4x less delay when taking photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
 Around 2x more lenses available
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Startup delay Less startup delay 120 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 4.2x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
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 D800'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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D800's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.72x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
100 vs 81
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D800:95.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D800:25.3 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D800:0.72x
DSLR-A850:0.74x
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
D800:36.2 MP
DSLR-A850:24.4 MP
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D800:900 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
Size Large Help
D800:146x123x82 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D800:4 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
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
D800:6,400 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
D800:146x123x82 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D800:$2,999.00
DSLR-A850:$2,899.99
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D800:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D800:900 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D800:15
DSLR-A850:1

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,349 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D5100 vs the D800
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D800
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the SLT A77 vs the D800
Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the D3S vs the D800

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850

appearance

Nikon D800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D800 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

discussion

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