Canon 5D vs Sony A900 Specifications

35mm 855.6mm²
12.8 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Review.

35mm 861.6mm²
24.6 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony A900 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A900.

Detailed specifications
Canon EOS 5D
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Links
Prices:
Manufacturer URL:	Manufacturer website	Manufacturer website
Predecessor:
Successor:	Canon 5D Mark II 5D vs 5D Mark II
General
Model Number:	5D	A900
Alternate Model Number(s):
Camera Format:	Pro SLR	Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured:	No	No
Retail Price:	$3499.99	$2999.99
Street Price:
Date Available:	2005-08-22	2008-11-15
Tripod Mount:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	28.6 oz (810 g)	33.1 oz (939 g) includes batteries
Size:	6.0 x 4.4 x 3.0 in. (152 x 113 x 75 mm)	6.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 in. (156 x 117 x 82 mm)
Waterproof:	No	No
Waterproof Depth:	n/a	n/a

Image Sensor
Sensor Type:	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:	Canon	Sony
Effective Megapixels:	12.8	24.6
Sensor Format:	35mm	35mm
Sensor size:	855.62mm² (35.80mm x 23.90mm)	861.6mm² (35.90mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch:	8.20 microns	5.94 microns
Focal Length Multiplier:	1.0x	1.0x
Aspect Ratio:	3:2	3:2, 16:9
Color Filter Type:	RGBG	RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:	Fixed	Fixed
Self-Cleaning:	No	Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization:	No	Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect:	No	No
DxO Sensor Score:	71	79
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):	22.9	23.7
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):	11.1	12.3
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):	1,368	1,431
Image Capture
Image Resolution:	4368 x 2912 (12.7 MP, 3:2), 3168 x 2112 (6.7 MP, 3:2), 2496 x 1664 (4.2 MP, 3:2)	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)
Image File Format:	JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW (.CR2)	JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0)
Continuous-mode frames/second:	3.0	5.0
Video Capture
Can take movies:	No	No
Movie Resolution:
Movie File Format:
Composite Video Out:	Yes	Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video:	Yes	Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:	No	No
HD Video Out:		Yes
HD Video Connection:		HDMI

Lens & Optics
Lens Mount:	Canon EF	Sony Alpha (Minolta A)
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	No
Digital Zoom Values:	n/a	n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus:	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Type:	9-point (plus 6 invisible assist points), TTL-CT-SIR CMOS	9-point TTL phase detection with 10 assist points, center dual-cross at f/2.8.
Auto Focus Assist Light?	Yes	Yes
Manual Focus:	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD (playback only)	Optical / LCD (playback only)
Viewfinder Type:	SLR type, eye-level pentaprism	SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 100% coverage, 0.74x mag., 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter
Focus Peaking:	No	No
EVF Resolution:	n/a	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):		0.74x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):		0.74x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display Size (inches):	2.5	3.0
Rear Display Resolution:	230,000 dots	921,600 dots
Touchscreen:	No	No
Articulating Screen:	No	No
Tilt Swivel Screen:		No
Selfie Screen:		No
Max Playback Zoom:	10.0x	19.0x
Top Deck Display:	Yes	Yes

Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):	1600	3200
Minimum ISO (native):	100	200
ISO Settings:	100 - 1600 in 1/3-stop increments, expandable to 50 / 3200	Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400
Auto ISO Mode:	No	Yes
White Balance Settings:	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature from 2,500K to 9,900K, Custom (3)
Shutter Speed Range:	1/8000 - 30 sec	1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode:	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation:	+/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes:	TTL full-aperture w/ 35-zone SPC: AF-linked Evaluative, 8% partial, 3.5% spot, center-weighted avg.	40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure:	No	Yes
Aperture Priority:	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority:	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:
Self Timer:	10 seconds	2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):
High Resolution Composite:	No	No
Flash
Built-in Flash:	No	No
Flash Modes:	n/a	n/a
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100):	n/a	n/a
Flash Range Description:	n/a	n/a
Max Flash Sync:	1/200	1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation:	+/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection:	Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal	Hot shoe, PC-sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types:	CF1 / CF2 / Microdrive	CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive
UHS Support:
Other Memory:
Dual Card Slots:	Yes	Yes
RAW Capture Support:	Yes	Yes
Uncompressed Format:	RAW (.CR2)	RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0)
Movie File Format:
Included Memory:	No memory included
Included Memory Type:
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi:	No	No
NFC:	No
Bluetooth:	No	No
Built-In GPS:	No	No
Microphone Jack:	No	No
Headphone Jack:	No	No
External Connections:	USB 2.0 High Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant:	Yes	Yes
DPOF Compliant:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control Type:	Remote w/ N3-type contact	Wired or wireless
Connections (extended):	DC In	DC input, Multi-connector, Sync termimal, Remote terminal, HDMI Type-C minijack

Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):	0.40	0.40
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):	0.33	0.41
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):	17	15
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):
Camera penalizes early shutter press?		No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):	3.0	5.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):	98	11
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):	0.15 seconds	0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):	0.15 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):
Shutter Lag (manual focus):	0.133 seconds	0.153 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):
Shutter Lag (prefocused):	0.078 seconds	0.072 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):	Tested with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens
Startup Time:	0.1 seconds	0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time:	0.0 seconds	0.3 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):	800 shots	880 shots
Battery Life, Video:
Battery Form Factor:	1 x BP-511 / BP-511A / BP-512 / BP-514, 1 x CR2016	Proprietary
Usable Battery Types:	Lithium Ion rechargeable	NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included:	1 x Proprietary BP-511A Lithium Ion rechargable	1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter):	Yes	Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software:	Digital Photo Professional, ZoomBrowserEX / ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch, Remote Capture,TWAIN and WIA drivers	Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only).
OS Compatibility:	Windows, MacOS	Windows 2000Pro/XP/Vista; Mac OS X (v 10.1.3+)
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features:		24.6MP Full-frame CMOS sensor, In-body SteadyShot Image Stabilization, Intelligent Preview, Enhanced DRO, Magnesium-alloy Body, Dust/Moisture Resistance, 100K Shutter, 3 User Programmable Memory Modes, AF Micro-adjustment, Top Mounted LCD, Quick Navigation system, Custom button, PhotoTV HD output via HDMI optimized for Sony Bravia TVs.