Nikon D3S vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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D3S compared with Alpha DSLR-A850

	NikonD3S	SonyAlpha DSLR-A850
Overview
Released
Released	November 2009	September 2009
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	Full frame	Full frame
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	Exmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	36 × 23.9 mm	35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	12.1 MP	24.6 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4256 × 2832	6048 × 4032
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–12800	200–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	12.87 million total pixels; FX, 1.2×, DX and 5:4 image areas. Maximum 1.2× image 3552 × 2368, DX image 2784 × 1848 and 5:4 image 3552 × 2832; sensor-cleaning system	Approximately 25.7 million total photosites; anti-static coating on low-pass filter and sensor-shift dust removal
Image formats
Image formats	12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG	JPEG, RAW, compressed cRAW and RAW/cRAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1; sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO detail
ISO detail	Expanded equivalents ISO 100–102400; Auto ISO; high-sensitivity movie mode extends to equivalent ISO 102400	Standard ISO 200–3200 in 1/3 EV steps; expanded ISO 100–6400
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System	BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Sony A
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	9 fps	3 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with automatic crop. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported	Sony A-mount; Sony Alpha and Minolta/Konica Minolta AF lenses. DT APS-C lenses are not recommended for full-frame shooting because their image circle may affect metering
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 3500FX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning	TTL phase detection with nine selectable points, a central dual-cross sensor and ten assist points; EV 0–18 at ISO 100; AF-S, AF-A, AF-C, direct manual focus and manual focus; micro-adjustment for up to 30 lenses
Shutter
Shutter	1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cycles; Quiet release mode	Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second and Bulb; sync 1/250 second with stabilisation off or 1/200 second with stabilisation on
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 9 fps at full FX resolution and in 1.2× or 5:4 crops; up to 11 fps in lower-resolution DX. At 10/11 fps focus locks to the first frame, and exposure also locks in poor light; VR and Auto ISO can reduce the rate. Both 12-bit and 14-bit RAW supported	Full-resolution continuous shooting up to approximately 3 fps; Sony claims 34 Extra Fine JPEGs, 16 RAW or 18 compressed RAW per burst; card and settings affect results
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Sensor-shift SteadyShot INSIDE; maker claims approximately 2.5–4 shutter-speed steps depending on lens and shooting conditions
Flash
Flash	No built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functions	No built-in flash; Sony Alpha system accessory shoe and separate flash sync terminal; ADI and pre-flash TTL control
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting	P/A/S/M and Auto; 40-segment honeycomb SPC metering; ±3 EV in 0.3/0.5 EV steps; Dynamic Range Optimizer and exposure bracketing; mirror lock-up
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	1280 × 720 at 24 fps	–
Video detail
Video detail	Motion-JPEG AVI at 1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216, all 24 fps; maximum five minutes at 720p or 20 minutes at lower resolutions. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF with mirror interruption; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF, including initiated movie autofocus	No movie recording (PhotographyBlog); Sony specifies no live view; HDMI supplies still-image playback rather than recorded Full HD movies
Audio
Audio	Built-in mono microphone and stereo microphone input; voice memo recording and playback for still photographs	–
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,000	921,600
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle and tempered-glass cover; dots count subpixels. Original US announcement and brochure specify approximately 921000 dots; Japan rounds to approximately 920000. Separate top and rear status panels	Fixed Xtra Fine LCD; dots count colour subpixels; separate top status LCD
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% in 1.2× and DX, and 100% vertical/97% horizontal in 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; replaceable focusing screen and eyepiece shutter	Eye-level pentaprism, approximately 98% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; supplied G screen, optional interchangeable L grid and M focusing screens
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	–
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	4200 photographs	880 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	1240 g	850 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's original US announcement specifies late November 2009 availability; Japan records 27 November. Main retains the month	Sony Hong Kong's original announcement specifies September 2009 retail availability for the body; month precision retained
Recording media
Recording media	Two CompactFlash Type I slots, including UDMA; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copying. Type II and Microdrive unsupported	Separate Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and CompactFlash Type I/II slots; UDMA Mode 5 and Microdrive support
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone input, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional GP-1 or MC-35 connects external GPS equipment	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and Mini HDMI; flash-sync terminal; PhotographyBlog also documents the wired remote-release terminal
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL4a; approximately 4200 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 4700 with AF-S VR 70–200mm f/2.8 ED; EN-EL4 also supported	NP-FM500H; maker CIPA claim approximately 880 photographs; optional AC-PW10AM adapter or AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger
Charging
Charging	External MH-22 charger; optional EH-6 AC adapter	–
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mm	Approximately 156.3 × 116.9 × 81.9 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1240 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe cover	Approximately 850 g without battery, memory card or accessories
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof rating	–