• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 37.00mm - 111.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax Optio A40
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: A40 A850
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Ultra Compact Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $299.95 $1999.95
Street Price:   $2,219.00
Date Available: 2008-02-15 2009-10-08
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 5.3 oz (150 g)
includes batteries 		30.0 oz (850 g)
Size: 3.6 x 2.2 x 0.9 in.
(91 x 56 x 23 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: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.0 24.6
Sensor Format: 1/1.7 inch 35mm
Sensor size: 43.32mm2 (7.6mm x 5.7mm) 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.90 microns 5.94 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2, 16:9
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:   79
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   23.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   12.2
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   1,415
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
3072 x 2304 (7.1 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3) 		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 2.2) JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0)
Continuous-mode frames/second: n/a 3.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes No
Movie Resolution: 640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
Movie File Format: AVI (DivX MPEG-4)  
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Sony Alpha (Minolta A)
Lens: SMC Pentax Zoom (7 elements in 5 groups, 3 aspherical) n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 37 - 111mm  
Focal Length (actual): 7.9 - 23.7mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (wide) - f/5.4 (tele) - ???  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 35 cm to Infinity
13.8 in to Infinity 		 
Macro Focus Range: 6 - 40 cm
2.4 - 15.7 in 		 
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: Yes No
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 6x n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 5 point Contrast Detect AF; spot, tracking, and face recognition 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: LCD Optical / LCD (playback only)
Viewfinder Type:   SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 98% 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: No Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.5 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 232,000 dots 921,600 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 8.0x 19.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   3200
Minimum ISO (native):   200
ISO Settings: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (auto up to 3200 in Digital SR mode) Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Manual Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature from 2,500K to 9,900K, Custom (3)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/2000 - 4 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: No Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: TTL metering: Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot 40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Natural Skin Tone, Half-length Portrait (3MP), Night Scene, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Kids, Digital SR (5MP), Surf & Snow, Sport, Pet, Text, Food, Frame Composite (3MP), Dynamic Range Adjustment  
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: On, Off, Auto, Redeye, Soft Flash n/a
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: Wide: 0.20 - 23 ft (0.06 – 7.1 m); Tele: Approx. 1.15 – 11 ft (0.35 – 3.5 m) n/a
Max Flash Sync:   1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation:   +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Hot shoe, PC-sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0)
Movie File Format: AVI (DivX MPEG-4)  
Included Memory: 21.0 MB  
Included Memory Type: Internal  
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: IR, optional Optional wired or wireless
Connections (extended): DC input 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
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):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):   3.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):   23
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):   0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):   0.154 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused):   0.074 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time:   0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time:   0.3 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 240 shots  
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   880 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-LI68 Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-LI68 Lithium Ion rechargeable 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: Software (S-SW69) CD-ROM Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only).
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS 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.