Nikon
D700
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A850

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Nikon D700

88
Winner

Nikon D700
"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
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 D700
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 1,415 ISO
Help
 The D700 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 19
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
 Around 2x more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D700'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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 880 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Size Slightly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700

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
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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.72x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 184 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 895 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D700 Nikon D700
88 vs 81
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D700:80.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D700:0.72x
DSLR-A850:0.74x
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
DSLR-A850:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
D700:23.5 bits
DSLR-A850:23.8 bits
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D700:1,074 g
DSLR-A850:895 g
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 Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D700:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D700:5 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Size Fairly small Help
D700:147x123x77 mm
DSLR-A850:156x117x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D700:$2,649.00
DSLR-A850:$2,899.99
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D700:25,600 ISO
DSLR-A850:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D700:95%
DSLR-A850:98%
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D700:1000 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
D700:15
DSLR-A850:1
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D700
Compare the D800 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
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
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the D700
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the D700
Compare the D300S vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the D90 vs the D700
Compare the D90 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D700.

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 D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:23 AM, September 19, 2011)
Hi Cnh, when we refer to image quality here, we're referring to lack of noise, color depth, and dynamic range.  The only thing that more megapixels can affect is the level of detail, but often, more megapixels do not increase the amount of detail, due to limitations in resolving detail that affect sensors, lenses, and software.  

Given that the Sony also has a full-frame sensor, AND has a high resolution sensor, its quite possible it does capture a higher amount of detail.
 
Cnh Photography (6:11 AM, September 18, 2011)
I don't know why I keep looking at these reviews.  They said the Nikon D700 has slightly better image quality, then under the Sony side it says the a850 has 2x the resolution.  So either the a850 has terrible quality per MP, or something is awry in the way they do things here.  Judging by the user comments, I don't think the issue is with the a850.  I was also reading another review where the a850 lost out to the slt-55 because of candy coated extras.  Ok, fine it takes video (that's what my camcorder is for) but a 30% loss in light due to the translucent mirror is a HUGE deal breaker for me.  I have to wonder where the priorities of the reviewer fall.  It seems like shiny toys like HDR and geo-tagging always win out over superior sensor size and sturdy build. 
 
Sija783 (11:55 PM, August 09, 2011)
sony