Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Nikon D3S

95

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
4400 shots
Focus points
Many focus points
51
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
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,415 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the DSLR-A850
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 880 shots
Help
5x more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 3 fps
Help
3x faster continuous shooting
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
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
Around 2x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 79.0
Help
Almost the same
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D3S's boost ISO is 4 f-stops better
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 98%
Help
Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
40% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

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 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 156x117x82 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.70x
Help
More than 10% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 23.8 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Significantly lighter 895 g vs 1,240 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.2" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 184 ms vs 197 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Cheaper $2,899.99 vs $5,196.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,297 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
95 vs 81
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3S:82.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
DSLR-A850:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3S:23.5 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D3S:0.70x
DSLR-A850:0.74x
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
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
D3S:1,240 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
Size Large Help
D3S:160x157x88 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
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
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
D3S:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A850:None

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D3S:15
DSLR-A850:1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3S:12,800 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thinner
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

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

appearance

Nikon D3S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D3S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D3S Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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