Sony Alpha 850 is unmistakably the little sister of the Alpha 900 – and the currently favorable Full format digital camera. This Sony has set the red pencil with rather insignificant features. What remains is for a sensor with a nearly 25-megapixel resolution, even the wrinkled, yet very manageable housing has not changed – at least at first glance. We have looked more closely and reveal our compact test that slimming down the Alpha endured more than 850 himself. We have also explored the question of whether the image quality may have suffered under the rigor. Or rather, whether the Sony Alpha 850 has given the ability to deliver even better pictures than its big sister.

Ergonomics and processing If one side of the older Alpha 850 alpha 900 (which remains in the program – a detailed test, see related links), so both cameras are the same as two identical twins. Their design is determined by an angular Prismendom, with the Alpha 850 looks like an indestructible tool. An impression that is reinforced when one takes the camera in hand: about a kilo of it presses on the scales – no lens. Together with the tested here Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70/2.8 SSM there are then two pounds, pull on the hand or the shoulder of the photographer. The housing material of the Alpha 850 is the same as that of the roughly 500 euros more expensive Alpha 900 (based on the “street price”). kuitenkin, Sony omitted for the Alpha 850 to give the aluminum-magnesium alloy has a finishing touch, her body looks rough and rather more robust than the fine, smooth look of the Alpha 900th Another difference Sony’s top model: Alpha 850 is printed on the label of the mode dial, not burdensome characterized.

Despite their normal weight, the alpha is 850 comfortably in your hand. The handle is heavily shaped by a strong trough of the middle finger. A rubbery coating provides additionally for slip resistance. Quick access to a range of settings (such as exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity and white balance type) dedicated buttons on top. There will be – exclusively at the full-format cameras from Sony – a small status display, but only provides the barest information. Sony’s typical, it is silent, by the way, like the display in the viewfinder over the selected ISO number – too bad! That the large and bright viewfinder pampered with a frame coverage of 98 prosentti. Thus it is not quite as generous as the 100-percent viewfinder of the Alpha 900, but the two points deducted at the Alpha 850 are in the photographic practice is irrelevant. Sony has not saved on the monitor: The three-inch screen provides full VGA resolution with 920,000 dot. Since it is a pleasure to inspect the recordings. The monitor displays a wealth of information – and more, with the small joystick to control most of the info boxes on the screen directly, and then changes the displayed values (such as ISO number, AF)-method or image quality then a twist of the thumb or Show Finger wheel. This allows the camera extremely comfortable and also adjust very quickly to the particular shooting condition. Not quite as consistent, kuitenkin, Sony has implemented the weather. Although the covers for the various interfaces (cable remote control, HDMI output, USB connection, PC flash connection) and the card slot is protected against water nickname, but not waterproof. The manufactured from solid metal tripod socket is seated correctly in the other hand, the optical axis. As the Alpha 900 alpha 850 can also be controlled remotely via infrared, the corresponding remote DSLR RMT1 must, kuitenkin, purchased separately.

Facilities The Sony Alpha 850 lacks nothing, what would be necessary to take pictures, but yet so many opportunity that is now also full format digital cameras vogue. LiveView offers the Alpha 850 is not about, nor is it can record videos. Even an onboard flash has not given the Sony camera. Näin, recommended as a small light-givers in all cases the acquisition of the flash HVL-F20AM (approx. 120 Euroa) which can provide with its guide number 20 in many recording situations, adequate lighting and also serves as a controller for a wireless-connected system flashes. Waivers must be in the Alpha 850 also on scene modes. For this they can offer the opportunity to save three personal presets to get himself comfortable on the mode dial. A depth-to examine the rapidly when the depth of field currently selected working aperture is, Alpha 850 to board. Valitettavasti, Sony has them factory-assigned a different function, “Intelligent Preview” Will: the depth-pressed, the camera features a picture that is not stored permanently. It is only intended to affect the changed settings (such as an exposure compensation) to visualize the subsequent integration. A feature that is proving the most photographic practice as useless. Quite differently by the sensor-shift image stabilization, which means Sony Steady Shot “: It always works, no matter what the lens is set. In this case – as opposed to an objective-based “stability” – does not stabilize the viewfinder image, but there are also no adverse effects on image quality with additional lens elements. Sony is still the only manufacturer that offers a full frame camera with this type of image stabilization, and it works really well.

Sony typically waits for the Alpha 850 on a useful function for brightening shadows in high-contrast subjects. The strength of this DRO function can be manually in five steps or choose to regulate automatically. lisäksi, there are six creative modes for different image forms (such as “landscape” tai “Portrait”), which are all set within wide ranges. Even when adjusting the white balance reflects the Alpha 850 generous: There are a number of presets, color temperature can be entered directly in C, will of course also measured manually with a gray card, and even the shots of white balance ranges are possible. Standards such as bracketing rules the Alpha 850 anyway. kuitenkin, it goes with classic series images with three shots per second rather slowly to work – Alpha 900 nevertheless provides reasonably fleet of five images per second. Professionally, kuitenkin, the true mirror lock-up, it is the Sony just for the two sisters are full frame.

The auto focus of the Alpha 850 gets his information from one of nine freely selectable focus points, which can be, thanks to the little “joystick” extremely fast and precise targeting. The mean field is interpreted here as a double cross sensor, the aperture to 2.8 very precise focus. Regrettable as Sony has let a chance to Treat the Alpha 850 allows practice-oriented arrangement of the AF sensors – the focus points all cavort in the middle third of the framing, which will focus on a subject on the screen makes it unnecessary.

Image quality kanssa 6048 x 4032 pixels records the Sony Alpha 850 on a recording. It must be composed with the Alpha 900 and Nikon’s D3x share crown for the resolution of small format cameras. With these more than 24 megapikseliä, kuitenkin, has even the excellent Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70/2.8 SSM (with whom we have tested the Alpha 850) his hands full: To the edge towards the resolution of breaking strong one at open aperture, even at low beam diaphragm 5 , 6 the resolution relieves little waste, and that applies to all focal lengths! While this is not critical for most subjects – but who wants to exploit the potential resolution of the camera into the corners, high-quality lenses to help but not. Also in terms of “vignetting” weakens the zoom lens a bit, especially on turned up the “short end” – here is the marginal decrease in brightness over two stops. Stopping down to f/5.6, fortunately, is already helping to reduce vignetting to a barely perceptible level.

Excellent handle the noise of the Sony Alpha 850 – at least metrologically: Up to ISO 400 the noise curve rises almost imperceptibly, between ISO 400 and ISO 800 it is then a bit steeper, and dropped again at even higher sensitivity. The latter is a clear indication that higher ISO 800 the noise from one stage switches. The visual impression of the typical “Sony Noise” not quite so sure: disorders manifest themselves primarily in very large variations in brightness, and are associated with increased susceptibility added unsightly spots of color. From ISO 1600, the images seem “spotty” and also very soft. On the other hand helps to turn off at high sensitivities, the “High ISO Noise Reduction” and the noise will then move to the PC using tools such as NeatImage at bay. Here, Valitettavasti, Sony has lost the chance to give the Alpha 850 allows improved image processing software on the road.

Is almost perfect, kuitenkin, the sharpening algorithm designed the Alpha 850, solely on the “bright side” of contrast edges, it is easy to overshoot. The input dynamics is also excellent, and ISO 1600 alpha 850 8.5 f-stops, processed at ISO 6400 there are still outstanding 7.3 stops. How many cameras but the Alpha 850 has problems with the output power, its black level is usually close to 10 instead of 0 The tone curve shows an inverse S-shaped curve, Alpha 850 also provides more “crunchy” concerted images. This is ideal if the image is printed without editing – who prefers his shots against optimized on the PC, should I choose to record in RAW format or the Kreativstil “neutral” instead of “standard”. Total convince the photos were taken with the Alpha 850, with a rather vivid color reproduction, beautiful contrasts, and an impressive low ISO numbers in detail.

Päätelmä: Full frame, and sheer resolution had never been received so favorable as with the Alpha 850 This one is by no means compromises in quality housing and get a camera with a formidable hunters. Also in the picture quality can convince the Alpha 850 – as long as it is loaded with really good glass and you can not have extremely high ISO sensitivities demands. Compared to the sister model, the Alpha Alpha 900, Sony has slimmed down 850 only moderately – hurts most at the three frames per second continuous shooting speed reduced. Waivers must be in addition to the Alpha 850 Live View and the possibilities for video recording as well as scene modes. As a mere snapshot camera or reporter Alpha 850 is clearly too large and too heavy. But he who is looking for a high resolution camera especially for the studio or landscape photography, is not currently cheaper alternative.