Sony Alpha A850
Sony Alpha A850
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Sony Alpha A850
Editor's Review
The Sony Alpha A850 boasts some impressive technical specs at a relatively affordable price, though it's still clearly intended for professionals and super-serious amateurs. This is Sony's second full-frame DSLR, featuring a 24.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, in-camera image stabilization, continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second, and a 3.0-inch LCD all in a magnesium-alloy shell (no movie mode, however). It doesn't have the 100% viewfinder, sealed body, or faster burst mode of the A900 but these are relatively small sacrifices. The camera is showing its age now in 2012 (when compared to the 5D Mark II) and we expect a full-frame SLT model is right around the corner.
Specifications
- 24.6 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- Dual BIONZ processors
- 3 fps continuous shooting
- 9-point auto-focus with 10-point assist
- JPEG and RAW formats
- Magnesium-alloy shell
- Captures to CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo media
- Release Date: Sep 01, 2009
Shop for A850 Accessories
Sony Alpha A850 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
Chris (12/11/2011)
Hey. The links to purchase this camera goes to a couple camcorders. Just a heads up. Thanks for the review :)
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fully functional (Evan — 06/08/2011)
Yes, the Minolta flash 3600HsD is virtually fully functional with the Sony Alpha line.
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Sony lens (Elaine — 11/26/2010)
I have a Sony F2.8 70 - 200 lens for my Sony A350 camera. Would this lens work with the full frame cameras?
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by James DeRuvo (11/30/2010)
Yes.
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what camera to buy??? (Ashley Ranestad — 11/04/2010)
I have the Rebel t1i and I am upgrading because I am going more professional, I shoot weddings and portraits and I am having a hard time deciding which camera to buy, I am considering the Sony a-850, the canon rebel T2i and the Mark 5D ii, which camera would be best??
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Liam McCabe (11/05/2010)
Since you're already with Canon, it makes the most sense to stay with Canon since I'm assuming you already have a number of accessories. With that in mind, the T2i isn't all that much of an upgrade to picture quality, though the video quality is excellent.
If you're serious about becoming professional, the 5D mk II is a great way to go, I have pro friends that use that model. If that's a bit out of your price range, the 7D is an improvement over the T1i/T2i, but not quite up to the level of the 5D.
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If you're serious about becoming professional, the 5D mk II is a great way to go, I have pro friends that use that model. If that's a bit out of your price range, the 7D is an improvement over the T1i/T2i, but not quite up to the level of the 5D.
minolta 650si to sony digital? (George Johnson — 10/28/2010)
i have a minolta 650si and lenses and looking to move into digital what sony would be best, so i could use the lenses i have,
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Liam McCabe (10/28/2010)
You're on the right track -- Minolta got bought up by Sony, and Sony's Alpha series is the spiritual descendant of Minolta. That said, I'm not intimately familiar with those mounts. This site might help:
dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp
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dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp
pc interface (eng\ magdi — 10/24/2010)
can i control my camera from my pc take a picture,power off and foucus tuning
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Liam McCabe (10/25/2010)
I'm not sure, but I doubt it -- you'd need some kind of third-party unlicensed firmware hack to make that work, I'd imagine, and I don't know of anything like that. Poke around on some Sony Alpha message boards for more info, I'd say.
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PC input/trigger? (Greg Parrott — 10/06/2010)
Is there provision for an external trigger, one operable by a PC?
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by James DeRuvo (10/07/2010)
From Sony - Remote Camera Control allows you to control your α850 from your PC.
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Greg Parrott (10/07/2010)
Thank you for your reply. Would you know how I can locate its part number or specifications?
Prior to posting the question you answered, I visited the 'SonyStyle' website and viewed the 'Accessories' for the A55 camera. The only remote control shown was a handheld wireless remote. I then used online chat. In response to my question, their reply was vague - "you probably can interface to a PC".
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Prior to posting the question you answered, I visited the 'SonyStyle' website and viewed the 'Accessories' for the A55 camera. The only remote control shown was a handheld wireless remote. I then used online chat. In response to my question, their reply was vague - "you probably can interface to a PC".
saying goodbuy after of 50 yrs of Nikon (julius king — 07/30/2010)
Hi at 69 1/2 and haveing been a Nikon fan for all most 50 years,this Sony Alpha A850 dose tickles myfannie but will it take Nikon lens ? Or do I start over with flash, lens(ex.some were around 10mm to 50mm wide angle zoom -a normal lens 85mm--100mm , 200mm medical normal and hopefully a tele of min.500mm) the lens I have are Nikon tops of the line. I am haveing mix feeling about the cost of changeing . I hope you understand . Thank You for your time . JJ-KKK ps. any options? and at what costs.
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by James DeRuvo (07/30/2010)
No, it won't. Not without an adapter and even then you'll lose a few stops and some clarity. Not worth it considering the Nikon D90 can take all those old Nikon lenses with no problem. And you get HD video to boot. Stay in family.
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go for it... (tunc gokce — 07/27/2010)
nice buy guys, i strongly recommend. but the set-back is: after a700 i had to change sal1680 and sal18250 zoom lenses as they're dt. instead i got the 28-70 f2.8. it's not cheap at all! worth the price though. but the 50, 85 and the macros are working amazingly well :)
i'm really happy that i got the real 50 mm back at last :) after all these digital years...
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i'm really happy that i got the real 50 mm back at last :) after all these digital years...
minolta lenses (Ithamar Vugman — 05/27/2010)
will I be able to use my lenses for Minolta 7000i
Which are the differences between alpha 900 and 850?
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Which are the differences between alpha 900 and 850?
by James DeRuvo (05/28/2010)
Difficult to say. Worst case, on manual only. But since Sony took over the Minolta camera business, it's certainly possible. But I'm betting any auto functions will be hit or miss.
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A850 v. A900 (Ren Knopf — 07/06/2010)
The A850 differs from the A900 in that the viewfinder coverage is slightly reduced (by a few percent), as is the buffer size (the latter resulting in a 3.0 fps vs 5.0 fps continuous shooting rate). All other key features remain unchanged. I got the A850 and put the $$ difference into new glass.
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Darren A (05/11/2010)
Do the Minolta 3600hsd flash work on the camera and do they work with the wireless mode
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by James DeRuvo (05/13/2010)
I highly doubt it'll work wirelessly. But since Sony took over Minolta's camera biz, there's a good shot the flash will work in manual mode at the least.
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financing (sammie — 05/03/2010)
can i buy online and finace it
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Paul (04/15/2010)
Manual is cheaper than nothin', at least until I can afford to get new lenses.
thanks
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thanks
Paul Hymes (04/15/2010)
Will I be able to use the lenses for my Minolta 8000i with the Sony Alpha A850. Any drawbacks?
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by James DeRuvo (04/15/2010)
Probably only in manual, but they can be used.
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Differences between Sony A900 and A850. (Antonio Durand — 02/08/2010)
Why the difference in price regarding to the A900? Fps only? Something else?
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