Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

73

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,415 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
79.0
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
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

63

"The button layout works"
dpreview.com | talking about the DSLR-A580's button-layout
"The DSLR-A580's imaging pipeline is near identical to the translucent mirror model SLT-A55."
dpreview.com | talking about the DSLR-A580's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.8 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.3 EV
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A580

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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.3 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A580's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Lens availability More lenses available 92 lenses vs 62 lenses
Help
Around 50% more lenses available
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
Almost the same
Size Smaller 137x104x84 mm vs 156x117x82 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
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
Weight Lighter 599 g vs 895 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1050 shots vs 880 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A580's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Cross type focus points Slightly more cross-type focus points 3 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Lowest price Cheaper $949.00 vs $2,899.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,951 cheaper (3.1x less)
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A580

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A850

Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.74x vs 0.52x
Help
Around 2x larger viewfinder
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,415 ISO vs 1,121 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A850 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 184 ms vs 295 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 98% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 800 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when turning on
Focus points Slightly more focus points 19 vs 15
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 3.2" vs 3.3"
Help
Almost the same
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A850
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
63 vs 73
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the DSLR-A580 or the DSLR-A850,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

-2
votes
by Hassan-Wehbe last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony DSLR-A580

I am a beginner with a good background in cameras and expert in computers and multimedia processin...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

"Both are good cameras, for different reasons. If it was me I would buy the Nikon D5100, and use th..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
DSLR-A580:80.0
DSLR-A850:79.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.8 bits
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
DSLR-A580:92 lenses
DSLR-A850:62 lenses
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
DSLR-A580:3
DSLR-A850:1

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$598 body only

$729 with 18-55mm lens

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$698 - $700 body only

$798 - $800 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$898 body only

$998 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

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

Live view Has live view
Movie format Shoots movies
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Live view Has live view
Image stabilization No image stabilization
True resolution Much lower true resolution

appearance

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

discussion

Showing 0 comments