Sony A850
Last updated (26 October’09):
- Review by Photocracti
Sony A850 is a full frame DSLR features a 35mm 24.6MP Exmor CMOS image sensor, in-camera image stabilizer, Dual BIONZ™ processors, PhotoTV HD viewing w/ HDMI™ output, Anti-Dust Technology, Moisture/dust-resistant design, Dual Card Slots, ISO 200-6400, and a 3″ TFT Xtra Fine LCD (921,600 pixels).
Overall Rating: 
| Latest Price Info
Sony A850 Reviews
PhotoCracti reviews the Sony A850 and writes;
“image quality is superlative at ISO 100 to 200. My best RAW photos—made with Carl Zeiss ZA lenses at around f/8—are suitable for gallery quality 24×36-inch prints. By ISO 400 some digital noise is apparent, but that’s not a problem in 13×19″ prints.”
Rating: N/A
PhotoReview.au reviews the Sony A850 and writes;
“Camera response times were similar to the A900 in our tests. The AF system was quick to lock on to subjects, even in dim lighting after dark. Focusing was accurate for more than 90% of the shots we took, regardless of the drive mode selected. “
Rating: 
DigitalTrends reviews the Sony A850 and writes;
“As for digital noise, the bête noir of point-and-shoot digicams and some entry-level DSLRs, it didn’t appear until ISO 800 and wasn’t a problem until hitting 1250. At 3200 and 6400, quality was bad no matter what level of DRO (Dynamic Range Optimization) we used. .”
Rating:
AlphaMountWorld reviews the Sony A850 and writes;
“A850 is a responsive, comfortable, intuitive, and easy to use camera. Yes that sounds a lot like what I’ve said about the A900. With image quality, it seems nothing has been changed. Overall as I have said before the image quality is excellent with the A900 and same goes for the A850.”
Rating: N/A
Sony A850 preview video by WDC;
ImagingResource reviews the Sony A850 and writes;
“Sony A850 presents a bit of a trade-off between detail and image noise. It’s a camera with enormously high resolution, but also somewhat higher noise levels at high ISO settings than some of its competition….Shooting with the Sony Alpha A850 can be summed up in one word: Satisfying.”
Rating: Dave’s Pick
Sony A850 Sample Photos
- Sony A850 Sample Photos @ AlphaMountWorld
- Sony A850 Sample Photos @ ImagingResource
Sony A850 User Manual (PDF)
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- Download Sony A850 User Manual (PDF - 3.6MB)
Sony A850 Specifications
| Price (body only) |
• US: $ 2000 • UK: TBC |
|---|---|
| Price (with 28-75mm SAM lens) | • US: ~$ 2800 • UK: TBC • EU: € 2688 |
| Body material | Magnesium Body |
| Sensor | • 35.9 x 24.0 mm CMOS sensor ‘Exmor’ • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter |
| Image sizes [Still] |
• 6048 x 4032 (24M 3:2) • 6048 x 3408 (21M 16:9) • 1984 x 1320 (2.6M APSC) |
| File qualities / formats | • RAW (.ARW 2.0)
• Compressed or uncompressed RAW option |
| Dust reduction | • Charge protection coating on low-pass filter • CCD-shift dust reduction mechanism |
| Lenses | • Sony Alpha lenses (also compatible with Minolta A-type bayonet mount lenses) • Can be used with DT (1.5x crop) lenses in APS-C mode |
| FOV crop | 1.0 x |
| Image Stabilization | • CCD-Shift ‘ SteadyShot INSIDE’ system
• Five level LED shake indicator in viewfinder |
| Auto Focus | • TTL CCD line sensors (9-points, center dual cross types + 10 assist sensors)
• EV 0 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range |
| AF area selection |
• Wide AF area • Spot AF area (center) |
| Focus modes | • Single-shot AF
• Direct Manual Focus |
| AF assist illuminator |
• Yes (built-in LED lamp) • Range approx 1m - 7m |
| Eye-start AF | No |
| Shooting modes |
• Auto • MR (memory recall) / Custom |
| Sensitivity |
• Auto (200 - 1600) - upper/lower limit selectable * • ISO 200 • ISO 100,ISO 125,ISO 160, ISO 4000, ISO 5000, ISO 6400 (expanded range) |
| Metering modes | • Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern) • Center-weighted • Spot |
| Metering range | • TTL metering • 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC • EV 0 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted) |
| AE Lock | • AEL button (customizable) • Half-press shutter release |
| AE Bracketing | • Single or continuous bracketing
• 3 or 5 frames |
| Exposure compen. | • -3.0 to +3.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV steps |
| Shutter | Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter |
| Shutter Speed | • 30 to 1/8000 sec • Bulb |
| Flash X-sync | • 1/250 sec • 1/200 sec (with SteadyShot INSIDE on) |
| Aperture values | Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps |
| DOF preview | Yes, dedicated button |
| White balance |
• Auto • Cloudy • Manual (Custom) - 3 memories |
| White balance fine tuning | • Auto (none) • Preset WB: -3 to +3 • Fluorescent WB: -2 to +4 • Color temperature WB: G9 to M9 (19 step Magenta / Green compensation) |
| White balance bracketing | • 3 frames • Hi or Lo steps |
| Dynamic range optimizer |
• Off • Advanced |
| Color space | • sRGB
• Adobe RGB |
| Color modes | • Standard • Vivid • Neutral • Landscape • Sepia |
| Image parameters | • Contrast (-3 to +3) • Saturation (-3 to +3) • Sharpness (-3 to +3) |
| Noise reduction | • Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second (User controllable: On / Off) • High ISO NR High/Normal/Low/Off at ISO 1600 or higher |
| Viewfinder |
• Eye-level fixed optical glass pentaprism • Dioptric adjustment (-3 to +1.0) |
| LCD monitor |
• 3.0" ‘Xtra Fine’ TFT LCD • Brightness setting -/+ |
| Flash compensation | -3.0 to +3.0 EV in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 2.0 EV steps |
| Flash Mode | Auto, Fill-Flash, Rear sync , High Speed Sync |
| External flash (optional) | • Sony HVL-F58M • Sony HVL-F56M • Sony HVL-F42M • Sony HVL-F36M • Macro Twin Flash Kit HVL-MT24AM • Ring Light HVL-RLAM |
| Drive modes | • Single-frame
• Continuous (H/L selectable) • Mirror Lock-Up |
| Continuous shooting * |
Approx 3 fps max • RAW: Up to 16 frames • cRAW (compressed): Up to 18 frames • RAW+JPEG: Up to12 frames • cRAW+JPEG : Up to 12 frames • JPEG (XFINE): Up to 34 frames |
| Self-timer |
• 10 sec • 2 sec |
| Orientation sensor | Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, Multi-LUN or PTP) • Video out (NTSC or PAL) • HDMI type C mini jack |
| Remote control * | • Wired: with optional RM-S1AM or RM-L1AM • Wireless: with optional RM-DSLR1) |
| Video out | • AV (Selectable NTSC or PAL) • HDMI (1920 x 1080i, 1280 x 720p, 720 x 580p, 720 x 576p) • ‘PhotoTV’ HD settings applied with BRAVIA. |
| Storage | • Compact Flash Type I/II, UDMA Mode 5 compliant • Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, PRO-HG Duo • Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 |
| Power | • NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh) • CR2025 Wireless remote • Battery charger included • Optional AC adapter |
| Vertical grip | • Vertical Grip VG-C90AM
• One or Two NP-FM500H batteries with auto switchover for power (additional battery is optional). |
| Dimensions | 156 x 117 x 82 mm |
| Weight (body) | 850 g |
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While this camera is ugly–which doesn’t matter much to me, I hear it performs quite well. I’m loving the user reviews and test reports. Nice thorough overview up on Imaging Resources (some good comparison pic’s), and Photocrati has a good field test report of the Sony A850 by the Magic Latern series writer– Peter Burian. Looks like I need to start saving for my own Christmas present!