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
Nikon D300S

71

Runner-up

Nikon D300S

"Although the fine detail of ergonomics can come down to personal preference and hand shape/size, the basics are universal"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's feel
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Thickness
Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S

Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
More than 2.5x more lenses available
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
Almost the same
Size Smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
40% less delay when turning on
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.2"
Help
Around 10% thinner
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 $1,690.00 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,210 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,415 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A850 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 79.0 vs 70.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.62x
Help
More than 40% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 184 ms vs 225 ms
Help
Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Weight Slightly lighter 895 g vs 938 g
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

Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
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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1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."

0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."

0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"

0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."

0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
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
D300S:938 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D300S:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A850:None

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Size Fairly small Help
D300S:147x114x74 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D300S:$1,690.00
DSLR-A850:$2,899.99
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D300S:950 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D300S:15
DSLR-A850:1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D300S:7 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
D300S:787 ISO
DSLR-A850:1,415 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
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
Size Is slightly larger

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only

Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Focus points Many fewer focus points

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

Nikon D300S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D300S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D300S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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