• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
  • Pentax K-3 II
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Pentax K-3
K-3 vs K-3 II
Successor:   Pentax K-3 III
K-3 II vs K-3 III
General
Model Number: A850 K-3 II
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1999.95 $850.00
Street Price: $2,219.00 $829.99
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2015-05-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.0 oz (850 g) 27.7 oz (785 g)
includes batteries
Size: 6.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 in.
(156 x 117 x 82 mm)
5.2 x 4.0 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 102 x 77 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 24.6 24.4
Sensor Format: 35mm APS-C
Sensor size: 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.94 microns 3.91 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Optional
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 79 80
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.8 23.6
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.2 13.6
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,415 1,106
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6048 x 4032 (24.4 MP, 3:2),
6048 x 3408 (20.6 MP, Other),
4400 x 2936 (12.9 MP, 3:2),
4400 x 2472 (10.9 MP, 16:9),
3984 x 2656 (10.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 2016 (6.1 MP, 3:2),
2896 x 1928 (5.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 1704 (5.2 MP, Other),
1984 x 1320 (2.6 MP, 3:2)
6016 x 4000 (24.1 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.0 8.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3)
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection with 10 assist points, center dual-cross at f/2.8. SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 98% coverage, 0.74x mag., 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.74x 0.63x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.74x 0.95x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 19.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400 Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature from 2,500K to 9,900K, Custom (3) Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 86K-pixel RGB sensor, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:   Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3; Pixel Shift Resolution (On/Off)
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No 24.0 megapixels
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: n/a P-TTL; Modes available depends on external flash mounted
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: n/a n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe, PC-sync Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No Yes
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 3.0 Super Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired or wireless Optional Wired or IR
Connections (extended): DC input, Multi-connector, Sync termimal, Remote terminal, HDMI Type-C minijack Micro (Type D) HMDI, USB 3.0 Micro B, DC input, wired remote jack, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.50  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 23  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.60
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.0 8.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 23 60
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   8.2
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   22
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   8.2
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   23
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.14 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):   0.274 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.154 seconds 0.094 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.090 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 1.2 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.5 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 880 shots 720 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary D-LI90
Usable Battery Types: NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only). Software CD-ROM includes Digital Camera Utility 5
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000Pro/XP/Vista; Mac OS X (v 10.1.3+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Cost reduced Sony A900. Smaller viewfinder (98% vs 100%), slower burst mode (3 fps vs 5), wireless remote not included. Improved sensor-shift shake reduction (up to 4.5 stops), new Pixel Shift Resolution mode (4-shot composite provides full color information at each pixel and reduces noise), built-in GPS with ASTROTRACER and electronic compass.