Sony A850 vs Canon 1D Mark IV

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A850 vs Canon 1D Mark IV

35mm 861.6mm²
24.6 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony A850 Review.

APS-H 518.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon 1D Mark IV Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 1D Mark IV.

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Differences

Sony A850 advantages over Canon 1D Mark IV

Less expensive
$2000 vs $4999 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-H
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Lighter weight
850g vs 1390g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.58x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.6 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Canon 1D Mark IV advantages over Sony A850

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1500 vs 880 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
39 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More AF points
45 vs 9
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
46 vs 23 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Body Only

Review Excerpt

Read our Sony A850 Full Review

Read our Canon 1D Mark IV Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A900

Sony A850

Sony A900

$2219
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger JPEG buffer

$3000
35mm

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Sony A850 vs Sony A900

Canon 1D Mark IV

Sony A900

$2795
APS-H

Lens selection
Longer stills battery life

$3000
35mm

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Sony A900

Compared to Nikon D3S

Sony A850

Nikon D3S

$2219
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$5200
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A850 vs Nikon D3S

Canon 1D Mark IV

Nikon D3S

$2795
APS-H

External Mic Jack
Shoots 1080p video

$5200
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Nikon D3S

Compared to Nikon D4

Sony A850

Nikon D4

$2219
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$4500
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A850 vs Nikon D4

Canon 1D Mark IV

Nikon D4

$2795
APS-H

Less expensive
More cross-type AF points

$4500
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A850 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 1D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2795
APS-H

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

$2139
35mm

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Sony A99

Sony A850

Sony A99

$2219
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Sony A850 vs Sony A99

Canon 1D Mark IV

Sony A99

$2795
APS-H

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 1D Mark IV vs Sony A99

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