Sony A850 DSLR: Review

Posted to Digital SLR 2010-06-14

Sony A850 DSLR review:

The Sony A850 DSLR is yet another stunning camera developed by electronics-tycoon Sony. This recent model was preceded by a successful release of its earlier version (Alpha A900 DSLR). Being a full-frame 24.6-megapixel camera with plenty of image-enhancing features, the Alph-A850 is the least expensive full frame digital camera in the market. Sony took camera manufacturing serious when it designed the A850 with a sturdy body to withstand plenty of rough usage. In addition, the camera is also well-sealed against moisture and dust. Overall, this model took the camera world by surprise with its credibility for breathtaking pictures in an affordable price range.

When it comes to the handling and size of the camera, the Sony A850 has some heftiness to it, weighing around 1 pound 14 ounces (excluding the battery, memory card, neck strap, etc). In terms of weight, the product is average; in terms of dimensions, this model measures 6 1/8 x 4 5/8 x 3 ¼ inches - which is slightly larger than other digital SLRs. If you are searching for an ultra-compact SLR, you may want to look elsewhere. But again, it is difficult to find any other full-fledged digital SLR for the price that the Sony A850 boasts.

Rating:

4.2 out of 5

Features

Delving into the features, the Sony A850 offers an excellent preview feature that allows you to view the image before it is captured; thus, enabling you to change attributes (like light exposure, white balance etc), at the point of image capture. The camera's viewfinder is a pleasure, especially since it is large, bright, vivid, and clear. The 3.0 inch LCD display with a 921,600-pixel resolution is also impressive. The status display and snapshot images are very clear, even under bright sunshine. Diving deeper into the features, you could say that there are positives as well as negatives. Being a full frame 24-megapixel camera is certainly one of its major advantages, especially combined with the slower continuous shooting speed. Unfortunately, the A850 doesn't offer live view or video recording which for many enthusiasts might be a downside. On the other hand, the A850 has bundled an ingenious design with the controls, replicating those on the camera body and also enabling it to shoot 800 shots per battery. Menu navigation is relatively easy, considering the fact that the camera has so many options (including image size, aspect ratio, multiple RAW and JPEG selections etc).

Performance

Sadly, the performance can only be said as average, although with Dual BIONZ processors and 24.6 megapixel CMOS sensors, the Sony A850 provides commendable snapshots. The shooting speed and auto focus seem to be on the slower side. If you want to shoot high-quality, high-speed shots, then the A850 probably are not the best camera for the job. Regarding the lens, using the proper lens and appropriate settings guarantees excellent images, both on screen and in print. Color reproduction is also great with a natural but well saturated look to the images. And with the variety of options available to edit the images, one can easily transform it to his/her own tastes and aesthetics. Under different lighting conditions, the exposure is pretty good at maintaining a nice balance and details. But many consumers complain that the noise performance is very poor, as it tends to produce extreme noise under some conditions and settings.

Summary

An overall assessment of the Sony A850 Digital SLR is that it is very good, even with the pros and cons. The pros are as follows: 1) this is the most affordable full frame 24-megapixel camera currently available; 2) it produces sharp images and provides excellent resolution; 3) if offers good color reproduction; 4) it comes with a wide range of features and options; 5) this model features an effective dynamic range optimizer. The A850 takes a downside when it comes to the speed of capturing images. The cons are as follows: 1) Not suitable for continuous shooting of fast motion pictures; 2) High-end lenses can cost almost as much as the camera; 3) Images tend to be noisy when it comes to high ISO performance. Needless to say, the Sony A850 Digital SLR should still be considered as a good, valuable option for detailed photography.

Pros

Amazing- most affordable full-framed 24.6-megapixel digital SLR
Full-fledged- too many features to list, most of which enhance images
Durable- magnesium-allow body safely resists wear, tear, and dust
Versatile- produces sharp images with excellent dynamic color ranges

Cons

Suffers- noisy images at high-ISO, slow shooting speeds