Nikon
D700
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A850

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

Nikon D700

100
Winner

Nikon D700
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality
"The Nikon D700 is an excellent camera that is extremely versatile and performs well both in the studio and on location."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's overall-performance

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
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

90

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 Significantly 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
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
 Around 2x more lenses available
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
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 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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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
100 vs 90
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD700
 Nikon D700 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
SonyAlpha DSLR-A850
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
6
16
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
17
7
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
17
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
9
13
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
8
14
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
11
14
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D700:2,303 ISO
DSLR-A850:1,415 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D700:80.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Viewfinder size Large 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
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
922k dots
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
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
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%
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D700:5 fps
DSLR-A850:3 fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D700:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A850:3,200 ISO
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D700:1000 shots
DSLR-A850:880 shots
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D700:197 ms
DSLR-A850:184 ms

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 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
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 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
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D700
Compare the D800 vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D700
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3S vs the D700
Compare the D3S vs the Alpha DSLR-A850
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
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

$1,700 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 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

$849 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

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