Sony Alpha DSLR A850 Review
Sony Alpha DSLR A850 Review - Just Think Alpha A900 "Lite"
September 2009, Carl Garrard (Update 9-27 See Additional Commentary, Page 6)
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Review - Just about a year ago today Sony announced the Alpha A900 DSLR, and nearly a year later its near twin cousin the Alpha A850 hits sales floors at 1/3rd less cost than the Alpha A900. The Alpha A850 is the worlds first full frame digital SLR to break the stubborn 2K sales price at release. There is no question about it, the Alpha A850 represents value. It is also the worlds highest resolution DSLR, sharing the 24.6 megapixel title only with the Alpha A900. If the Alpha A900 turned heads, then certainly the Alpha A850 must as well, yet this time it might make you pull out your wallet. This is a professionals tool, don't let the price fool you. Similar build, performance, and feature set are usually found at a much higher cost. |
Sony are giving reviewers a pretty easy job of late, with many different models having very similar feature sets and image quality characteristics making the job of reporting a little redundant but nevertheless less work. The A850 is yet another example of a camera that much has been said about already because it shares so many traits with the A900, hence my rather short review here. Without risking sounding too much like a broken record, I do have a few things to say however, and I will keep the technical aspects to a bare minimum.
Introduction- Sony Alpha DSLR A850
I think the A850 gives a buyer a very simple choice. If you crave a full frame DSLR still imaging device that has a straight forward design philosophy, one that is simple, reliable, well built, and emphasizes a classic still imaging device with great handling over being packed with features... then perhaps this is the camera for you. I said the same thing about the Alpha A900 yet, the A850 is more affordable and suffers very little in the way of performance 'downgrades' in comparison to the Sony flagship.
If you stop for a moment and think back 2 years ago, photographers who wanted a full frame DSLR with over 20 megapixels of resolution had only one choice at that time... a DSLR that cost nearly eight thousand dollars and available from one company- Canon. Initially the Canon EOS 1Ds Mk III was the only +20mp full frame, full fledged professionals camera and quite out of reach by many photographers based on price alone. I imagine many photographers sat sadly on the sideline thinking that a machine of this sort would probably be out of reach for years to come.
Well as they say, that was then and this is now. It wasn't that long of a wait after all. And boy, how things have changed so quickly.
Although the Alpha A850 lacks some performance and headline features of the EOS 1Ds Mk III, it still ticks off many excellent performance and build characteristics that many photographers would say makes it a real bargain professionals camera. And compared to the EOS 5D Mk II, you really only sacrifice video and sensor based live view. Both of which many photographers are still willing to forego considering the features for price tag advantage of the A850.
With the Alpha A850 and A900, Sony has brought full frame digital DSLR photography within reach to more buyers than ever before. They can single handedly be credited for this convenience, as they were the first to introduce a massive resolution full frame DSLR with a professional grade build and feature set for an affordable price. Canon and Nikon both quickly followed suit, but Nikon chose a different path in the resolution department with the D700/D3 cameras.
Later Nikon would introduce the D3x which by all means is a masterpiece of a camera that commands a masterful price tag. Canon beat out the A900 on price at its initial introduction, but a price drop by Sony to match the Canon's price showed Sony's commitment to remain competitive on price. Sony has now taken price for performance even one step further.
And, Sony has done all this without skimping on build or overall performance much in the Alpha A850. This is a breakthrough in the DSLR segment, one that should be celebrated by all DSLR enthusiasts and professionals alike as it will undoubtedly signal a change in other manufacturers to also bring affordable full frame cameras to the market. Competition is fierce. Sony knew exactly what they were doing by marketing the Alpha A850, and indeed it seems photographers have taken notice.
thanks for the review!
It's hard for us also to avoid the broken-record responses to Sony's latest offering. Another great photographic tool, with none of the toy features that some were certain that Sony would bring to the dSLR world. I sure hope some non-LV cameras remain on Sony's list of things to do, despite your live-view prediction. I cannot imagine going from a230 to 850 with none between. Time will tell..
I'm still waiting for the mountaintop image to download, but the sky looks good :^)
Dowloading slow?
Just checking, should be pretty quick at least from our end, probably no big deal but just checking.
Glad to do the review :)
Carl
The images look good and the
The images look good and the camera is definitely something I would consider.... my biggest "thing" is that I should wait a few months to see what the a700 "MKII" specifications will be and make a descision then... one can only hope the "MKII" is being held due to the "goodies" that are being added...
...if the a700 "MKII" has all current features of the a700 plus lens focus adjust and a 16-18MP sensor, backward compatibility with existing VG, and noise handling/features a la a5xx series, my descision will be harder, if not the a850 will be an obvious choice for me...
Excellent Review Carl
Looks like Sony has a great camera in their arsenal for the price. The images you put up would have won me over if I had the money in my accounts. :-P
RAW vs JPG
Useful, short, sweet assessment. Thanks.
My only hesitation about an a700 to a850 upgrade is in relation to the final points of comparison with the a550... namely JPG processing, auto white balance etc. It seems that the a850 came out as a "previous-generation" camera at the same time as "new generation" a5XX cameras were released. Which always leaves us frustrated... why can't we have the cheap full-frame WITH the very latest processing power? It's obviously there...
I guess it's a question of RAW vs JPG. If you shoot RAW, then the a5XX file processing advantages are a moot point on the a850 because you can process the white balance and noise to your heart's content.
But wouldn't it be nice to have both options?
I'm so close to jumping at the a850, but deep down wish there was an a830 with a high-iso-loving 18-megapixels and the a5XX JPG processing engine. Then again, I rarely shoot over iso1000 and my final images are always the RAW ones......
Lenses from my old Minoltas
Has anyone used/tested any of the Minolta film camera lenses on the A850/A900?
I have many lenses from my old Minolta film cameras that i still use on my A100 and to me, the quality seems very good but i have aps-c. I would love to know how the photos look on a full-frame. Anyone have any idea?
I have many
Minolta lenses, and have tested/used them on the A900.
Being very general- they work very well.
Which lens in particular are you interested in seeing photos from? I have a decent catalogue.
Carl
Minolta lenses
How about the 28-135? I'm considering a switch from a700/CZ16-80 combo to an a850 and my 28-135. I don't like the flare issues of the 28-135 but otherwise, it's a great performer on apsc. Full-frame?
How about the humble 50/1.7? (I have a 35/2 and 50/2.8 macro that have seemed to crowd it out, but it's still my fastest lens of any length and too cheap to be worth selling methinks.)
I'm assuming the Sony 70-300G will be strong on full-frame? And the 100/2 and 200/2.8? Would you agree?[img][/img]
Your in luck
I have the 28-135, a couple 50mm 1.7s, both lenses perform well on the A900. The 70-300G is well documented as an excellent lens on the A900.
Don't have the 100/2 or 200 2.8 unfortunately.
I can do a post to the A900 forum with some basic test shots if you'd like for the A900.
Carl
That would be swell
Thanks. I'm interested in how the 28-135 works wide open at its various lengths and how it handles flare (if it's any different than the a700). The 50/1.7 is mainly a low light camera for me, so I'm most interested in how it works wide or near wide open. I'm not too worried because it's usually for people shots and the out of focus corners will likely mask any sharpness issues). Thanks.
I hope to see more products
I hope to see more products along these lines from Sony in the future. Sony can't compete with the Nikon and Canon heritage but they can produce products that will make potential buyers take a second look at their own products. To do that, they need products that stand out. A 24MP FF camera for $2k stands out. When the early adopter price fades away, things should get even more interesting.
£2000 price barrier just broken?
It is interesting to see reviews saying the price of this camera is a break though for a full frame camera when in reality the superior A900 has been selling for under that price barrier for quite some time. Has any one graphed out the rate of camera price decline from initial recommended retail down to end of life? that would be a useful tool to have, so the less well healed of us could say with some accuracy, ok if I wait x months the price will have come down by y% to a figure I can justify.
Its pretty simple
my review stated USD price.
Carl
apologies Carl for some
apologies Carl for some reason I assumed I was on a uk site with a similar name! humble pie being eaten here.
I bought A850 today but my
I bought A850 today but my Sigma 18-50 lens cannot be used because it is not a Full frame lens. All pictures I took by this lens has black round side on the photos. I have no choice but have to buy a new FF lens.......
An option to enable APS-C mode.
Hi Vincent,
Since the Sigma lens you have may not be detected by the A900 as an APS-C lens, or digital lens, it may not automatically enable the APS-C crop. When the A900 is connected to Sony APS-C lenses, this is automatically turned on. To enable this mode, go to Setup Menu 4 and change the "APS-C Size Capt" setting and set this to 'On'. This will enable automatic cropping for APS-C lenses. Remember to turn this off when changing to a FF lens.
GBP & USD
Ok, initialy I ended up on your site looking for some input regarding 50mmF1.4 primes, and somehow, 2 hours later, ended up here.
I purchased my A700 in August 2008 along with a 70-200-G lens and the CZ16-80, I dont remeber the price of the A700, but I do recall returning to the retailers a month later to pick up the CZ which was on back order.
When I picked up the lens, the sales girl told me about the imminent release of the 900, which I wasn't aware of. In Semptember 08 she quoted a tad under £1700 pounds. I dont have a clue what that equated to at the time in USD, but on this side of the pond it seemed one hell of a lot of camera for the money. And I left in tears. Not really, but I did ponder somewhat the what if's, and had I knowns for a few days. Such as, had I know, I could have sacrificed the 70-200 in favour of the 900 and the CZ, just.
I'm saving up for the a900 and intend to keep the a700 because I love it (just need a bidder for my other kidney). Totally out of love with my little a100 though (see cautionary tale), which I feel guilty about because It was my first camera and was totally responsible for my addiction for pixles. I've tried taking them both out together a couple of times, (events mostly) the CZ on one and the fat G on the other. But I just ended up missing more pics because of the differnce in navigation to be honest.
Anyway enough of all that. I came on here looking for feedback on a prime and find myself aware of another Sony full frame. I'm sold on the the 50mm F1.4, and many thanks for your opinions. So the question is, am I still saving up for a 900. I will go and hunt down some reviews and comparisons myself (any suggestions?), but in your opinion, is the 900 still worth the extra weeks saving up?, Are the comarisons in price, contols, build and image quality so close that buying the 900 seems pointless.
CAUTIONARY TALE : BMX supercross event. wandering around with the a100/CZ-lens, and the a700/70-200G lens, one around my neck, the other over my shoulder, but both bodies side by side. Walking down an hardpacked limestone path, and suddenly the fat G hits the ground, petals down. It hits the ground and falls over, contacts end into the edge of a very shallow puddle, only about 1/4" deep, but deep enough to splash the entire lens. My heart sank.
The lens was definatly locked in OK because I'd just minutes before fired of a couple of cards. All I can think is that the a100 strap had pulled tight against the release catch and rotated the lens just enough to unlock it. Over the next 10 or 15 minutes, the lens most have gradually rotated enough to simply fall off.
The lens? Picked it up. blotted the water off the casing and carefully cleaned the water splashes off the back lens and carried on shooting. everything worked fine, not a mark, the hood took the entire impact, even that doesn't have any damage other than a very slight scuff to the edge of one of the longer petals. Phew.
Great site, will be back Ivan
any suggestions?
Opps, just found the other 5 pages of your review. I'll read them tomorrow. think I answered my own question just from reading half of page 2 thanks.
Ivan
Hello Ivan
Let me know if you have any further questions and I or any others here will most likely be able to answer them. Glad you stumbled upon us!
Carl
Image compatability problem with Aperture software
I have both the a900 and the a850 and have been having problems with Apple Aperture software. On the a900 the RAW and cRAW work fine with Aperture, but with the a850 all I get is 'Unsupported image format'. Even most of the 'thumbnail images' are distorted (smashed down vertically). I don't know what has changed in the image format but I can't find any info or help online. Has anyone else seen this problem?
Tom
Apple updates...
I don't recall seeing an update from Apple for Aperture since the A850 came out, so it's probably not supported yet. Why it is taking Apple this long, I don't know - from the Apple help forums it appears all that has to be done to make the files compatible is do change 'A850' to 'A900' in the header info.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10335908
DxO also has minor problems with Snow Leopard
I find that I now must drag and drop files into DxO. I can no longer load files from within DxO. I'm confident this will soon be fixed. In the mean time it still very usable.
"...if the a700 "MKII" has
"...if the a700 "MKII" has all current features of the a700 plus lens focus adjust and a 16-18MP sensor, backward compatibility with existing VG, and noise handling/features a la a5xx series, my descision will be harder, if not the a850 will be an obvious choice for me..."
If the Canon 7D shows what a 18mp sensor can do, then I hope the a700 replacement does NOT go that direction, and instead sticks with 12 or 14; The 7D images I've seen seem to really look poor compared to the D300 images. :/
>The 7D images I've seen
>The 7D images I've seen seem to really look poor compared to the D300 images.
Where? On Image-resources, I like canon's 7d imasges better.
Wired remote?
Carl, did Sony do away with the wired remote port when they acquired the KM assets? I like using my Minolta wired remote shutter release (the same one I bought back in the 80s to use with my Maxxum 9000 film SLR) and it works fine with my KM 7D, as well. It would be a shame to have to switch to an IR Remote Commander, especially since the wireless remote is not included with the a850 camera.
wired remote
I don't know if it is the same port/plug style; but you can still get and use a wired shutter release with the alpha's. I use a $6.00 one I got off ebay constantly. It is the only way to use alternate drive modes without touching the camera...
Wired Remote III
Lets make it a trilogy.
No, Sony has not done away with the wired remote port.
Carl
Thanks!
Excellent news! Thanks!
Thanks Carl BUT
Carl, thanks for the review. I agree pretty much with all you have said about the A850. It sure is a sweet camera. BUT a camera is only the base of a system and in the Sony system, we are sadly lacking in the lenses department. Not everyone can afford or need large aperture Zeiss zooms. We need some excellent quality F4 zooms and some more wideangle primes to go with the camera. It's like having the best battlefield tank in the world, but no shells to put in it.
Just my 2 cents worth,
John
Sure would be nice to have more lenses always
I agree we could use more. There are holes to be filled lens wise, T/S lenses all kinds of lenses I can think of.
Maybe I should do a review of the Alpha system as a whole, as opposed to individual camera and lens reviews ;).
Carl