Sony Alpha a850 preview

[gary35mm]

any updates with SONY PRO CAMERA'S???? all there PRO's are already discontinued are they gonna release anytime soon? Im planning buy used a850 from a friend but I'm afraid to invest if there is no future for sony.

[DarkShark190]

124.6 CMOS sensor lol

[Sidowse]

At the end I was expecting the guy on the left with crazy hair (not a palm) to chuck the camera over the railings.

[autocrossaholic]

nice fern-do!

[00Chiggs00]

Met Paul Genge at Focus 2010. He beleives in his product and this comes across in his presentations. I had just purchased a850 and although he was busy at the show he took time out to give advice and tips and congratulate me on my choice. He knows the market well from newbies to pro toggers.

Lovely guy, very genuine and knows his stuff. On 2nd Sony having started with an a200 and believe me this is an awsome camera. The new 28-75 full frame lens is super.

[MrTaurushill]

Sounds like you're defective, as opposed to the camera...

[feelgoodaboutit]

Don't let me forget, this camera will not take video. At this price and considering the price, I feel that I made a costly mistake buying this heavy mess.

[feelgoodaboutit]

I own this camera and hate it. I'll admit it can take some great shots, but it's hit and miss. In auto mode, it can't make appropriate adjusments to light, so you wind up having to do it manual. It's heavy as hell, and mine is for sell on E-Bay.

[danapointtrainer]

@feelgoodaboutit LMFAO, you used "Auto" on this camera??!!! Seriously?? Bhahahahahaha

[danapointtrainer]

@feelgoodaboutit if you say so man... we all know comparing "e-penis" online is absolutely worthless.

[danapointtrainer]

@feelgoodaboutit the videos I uploaded were work related with the iPhone you stupid-ass... I don't own a camcorder or do I have ANY interest in videos (they were uploaded to be seen by contractors). Now YOU are stalking me. Apparently you don't understand the term "e-penis"... that's okay... it's understandable, you don't seem to be very bright. Anyone that would buy a professional dSLR and use the "Auto" mode is a fucking moron.

[archerpride]

The Sony 900 and 850 are completely built and designed in-house by Sony, unlike the previous and other Alphas which have Minolta lineage.

I like where Sony is going, camera-wise. They already have the best live view. Also, have you seen the viewfinders on these things (900 and 850)? That big hump on top, that's not a design. That houses a bad-ass viewfinder; easily one of the brightest, clearest, sharpest DSLR viewfinders ever!

[someguy6481]

@archerpride

I agree with what you're saying, but if Sony is going to beat the likes of Nikon & Canon Sony really needs to sort out the noise issues on higher ISO's, compare the A700 with the the Nikon D300/s at high ISO's, compare the A900/850 against the Canon 5D Mark 2 at higher ISO's & you will see that Sony really needs to fix that area. So far Sony ticked the right boxes on what makes a great DSLR but failed to tick one after many attempts.

[gotMOTION]

Sony Digital camera uses CARL ZEISS Lens, which is made by Germany... I will rather use Minolta Brand on the Sony or do what they did with the phones: SONY - ERICKSON. Sony-Minolta

[alphaomegatog]

another thing is that i have a sony a300 and i think the way it looks is perfect, so why do sony try and make it look like something from the 1990's with the a900 and a850, if the a700 had a top lcd screen then i bet twice as many togs would buy it.

[alphaomegatog]

what i dont get is sony are making cheaper FF cameras to get everyone into FF, so why do they make crop sensor primes? i can understand that they are cheaper but consumers would rather have cropped sensor zooms and would leave the primes to the pro's

[mowgie]

The palm leaves or whatever it is blowing around behind the guy on the left's head is really funny looking. Mesmerizing, I can't stop watching.

[rossgumbrell]

reviewer was gormless

[ellsworthra]

what would be nice is if there was a live veiw

[dvamateur]

Gee. The wirless remote control. I didn't even notice that the A900 came with one. I am never planning on using it anyway with my A900. Wireless remotes are for compact cameras.

[socal1000]

sony has been working with nikon for awhile now so im not sure how sony dosent have a background in photography

[dvamateur]

That's perfectly fine. Sony has a lot of experience with CCD's and CMOS sensors, albeit for video applicaionts. Sony is an alectronic company in the first place, not an optics company. But they have enough money to buy Minolta and slap Sony name on the products, which saddens me.

[IronAmethyst]

And why does that sadden you?) Sonys electronics + Minoltas optics dive a great result) + now the Minolta engineers have more financial support to create smth new and even better,so what if it will be "Sony" branded?

[dvamateur]

I have the A900, and it's a great camer. But I still can't get used to the Sony logo on the pentaprism. It looks as awkward as the Sony logo would look on, say, binoculars. They should have leave Minolta brand name on their products. It could have actually given them more of the Canon/Nikon pie than with that awkward Sony logo. I mean, Sony has no photographic legacy at all... Panasonic was clever enough to create a new brand, the Lumix. Samsung already failed with DSLRs, is Sony blind?

[IronAmethyst]

Don't think they'll fail,since they have the Minolta. Their Alpha-range is already very popular with consumers,amateurs,hobbyphotog­rafers,whatsoever. I think its due to the pricing and really decent quality. Maybe now they'll try hard to push their cameras up to the pro-photografers,good luck to them on that)))

P.S. always thougt of the people who care to much about the logo as a lil ackward...geez,are you trying to take pics or show off?)))

[dvamateur]

I've just been a Pentax, Olympus, and Minolta fan. I applaud these small companies to go against the giant corporations and still be around, aside from Minolta. It saddens me that people will forget Minolta's contribution to photography.  What's next, a Sony binocular maybe? Give me a break...

[normanbercasio]

note the guys head on the left side - tree branches and leaves! :)

[stewiek]

cool "headgear" haha

[CrazyJimKU]

ZOMG! 124.6 mega pix!!!!!

[fantafag]

hahaha...i saw that too!

[FiXiT25]

One thing I dont understand if the A850 is being marketed lower spec then the A900, why are retailers in the UK pricing the 850 higher than the 900? Also like ftpaddict said they are out pricing themselves with the lenses and accessorys, I for one am thinking of swopping over to Canon\Nikon due to this, Im sorry Sony but if you want a large slice of the Canon\Nikon pie you need to lower your prices in line with theirs

[sasktank]

if it had a EF lens mount - idd buy one

[Lampiono69]

A definitely so good and cutting age Full frame DSLR camera with the latest CMOS sensor.

I will buy it soon, for sure!

[andreadeortiz]

Ok, so all the lens will fix with this a850 too?

[camilo06]

To the Sony Designers: Please design a better placed On-Off switch placed on the

Right side close to the shoot button , would be much easier and better , in my opinion .

Thank you great cameras !

[dombower]

wow stabalised full frame! but they never said how much it was goign to be, only that it was less...

almost tempting me to swap, but then i saw it close up and really not a big fan of the look, ill stay with my nikon for now.

[epics7]

price was announced last week. intro. price 2000 u.s. dollars. and more than likely will lower the following months.

[ftpaddict]

PS: Specs at the end read "124.6 CMOS sesnor"

[ftpaddict]

I love your a900 and a850 cameras, Sony, but could you please not jack up the price on your lenses so much?

[pireze]

Agreed, but most Alpha shooters would be wiser to buy older Minolta glass instead of Sony lenses.

[atakaji]

Can you please explain why?

[Kuyamoko]

nice hair!

[Daniel9787]

does anyone know if sony will be bring out a dslr that will shoot full HD at 30 fps? if so when will it come out?

[mahamza86]

Nope, Not in the recent rumors it's not.

Sony is still sticking to the retro theme

[mahamza86]

Fantastic camera for the price!!

I 'm still waiting for the rumored A950 which hopefully shall feature backlit CMOS sensor.

Nice job Whatdigitalcamera for keeping us up to date.

[Emilyy10963]

How much did they say it cost?

[No1BRC]

Recommended Retail Price is ~2000,-€

[epics7]

exmor R sensor.