Nikon D700 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

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D700 compared with Alpha DSLR-A850

	NikonD700	SonyAlpha DSLR-A850
Overview
Released
Released	July 2008	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	200–6400	200–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	12.87 million total pixels; FX and DX image areas; maximum DX image 2784 × 1848; integrated dust reduction with vibrating low-pass filter	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 100–25600; Auto ISO	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	5 fps	3 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with optional 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; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 available at reduced flash range; shutter tested to 150000 cycles	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 5 fps with EN-EL3e, including 14-bit RAW. Up to 8 fps with MB-D10 using EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells, or EH-5/EH-5a AC power; EN-EL3e in the grip alone does not provide 8 fps. Rates require specified focus/exposure settings and at least 1/250 second	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	Pop-up i-TTL flash; guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres, 13 at full manual output; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminal	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, Virtual Horizon and interval timer	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
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	920,000	921,600
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; removable protective cover	Fixed Xtra Fine LCD; dots count colour subpixels; separate top status LCD
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism, approximately 95% coverage and 0.72× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; selectable grid 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)	1000 photographs	880 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	995 g	850 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's original US announcement specifies late July 2008 availability; Japan records 25 July. 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	CompactFlash Type I, including UDMA; single slot; Type II cards and Microdrives are not supported	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, HDMI Type C mini connector (HDMI 1.3a), ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional MC-35 connects compatible external GPS receivers	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 provides network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL3e; approximately 1000 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 2500; optional MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells	NP-FM500H; maker CIPA claim approximately 880 photographs; optional AC-PW10AM adapter or AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger
Charging
Charging	External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter	–
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 147 × 123 × 77 mm	Approximately 156.3 × 116.9 × 81.9 mm (width × height × depth, excluding protrusions)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 995 g excluding battery, card, body cap, accessory-shoe cover and monitor cover	Approximately 850 g without battery, memory card or accessories
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy body with environmental seals; not a waterproof rating	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF with mirror interruption; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF	No movie recording (PhotographyBlog); Sony specifies no live view; HDMI supplies still-image playback rather than recorded Full HD movies