Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Q with 18-70mm lens Reviews: Digital SLR Camera
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This digital camera is a good all rounder.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Q with 18-70mm lens:
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Some customer reviews of Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Q with 18-70mm lens
Most helpful reviewsPurchaser Experienced amateur
- Good points:
- Good weight balance. Easy lens change. Solid robust body.
- Bad points:
- Complicated instructions re functions in Manual.
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1 of 4 people found this review helpful
Review date: 18 Jun 2010
Alan, Basingstoke Professional photographer
- Good points:
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Apart from the pionts below every thing else is superb.
- Bad points:
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ISO above 500 very noisy campared to canon & nikon..
It takes 2 functions to change ISO
Would prefer more than 3 frames per second.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Confirmed purchase: 18 Jun 2010
Mark , Harrogate Professional photographer
- Good points:
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Like the viewfinder and the build quality.
Raw images contain a lot of detail, vast difference between 12 and 24mb, if I upscale an image from my A700 to match the A850 you loose more detail than I expected.
Upgraded from the A700, so a lot of the features/menus/settings are very similar.
The intelligent preview is very useful.
The beauty of full frame is that all my wide angle lens are now wide angle, takes some getting used to especially with my Carl Zeiss 16-35mm, but love it.
Love the fact that I can change from Compact Flash to Memory Stick via the F button, rather than having to go through the menu system.
Like having the AF micro function feature, although the A850 focuses better than my A700. Use the memory feature 1, 2 and 3 most of the time, very easy to access and change settings.
I got the grip at the same time and highly recommend it, lot more comfortable than my grip on the A700.
Like the display on the top panel, a lot of people moan about the fact that it doesn't give much information, I like that fact that it's nice, clean and simple.
To me the A850 is the camera that the A700 should have been but with the smaller chip.
Things I'm still getting used to going full frame and I think this will relate to any manufacturer are the following:
1. Lenses are now the correct focal length
2. Just the amount of detail you can capture, it's huge!
3. Lot bigger viewfinder
4. Lenses focus better and if not have the ability to adjust them - Bad points:
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Miss having 5 frames per second, but that's available on the the A900, didn't think the difference would be that great, but it's very noticeable. Shame it's not got live view like its competitors.
Price too similar to the A900, although I got a good deal on mine, with the 28-75mm F2.8 and grip.
Prefer the paint finish on the A900 than the very matt finish on the A850.
Tends to under expose slight, need to put +0.7 most of the time, but I always bracket my shots, so not a major issue.
Don't know why they bothered with an Auto setting, not really something I would every use, prefer to have had 4 memory options.
One thing I have noticed, is that due to the size of the chip, I have to clean it more often to get dust/blobs off it more than my A700
Noise is an issue above 800ASA, but as I rarely shoot above 400ASA not a major issue. It's just a case if other manufacturers can produce good ISO images at higher settings, why can't the A850?
Things I'm still getting used to going full frame and I think this will relate to any manufacturer are the following:
1. Corner sharpness not as good as APS-C cameras
2. Lenses vignettes more than on APS-C cameras
3. Narrower depth of field
4. You'll need to buy more cards/hard drives for your files
5. You'll need Cokin Z filters for you wide angle lenses
I know I've listed a lot of negative points, but none of the above are major issues and I'm glad I purchased the A850 and went full frame.
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5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Confirmed purchase: 10 Mar 2010
Paul, Cardiff Keen amateur
- Good points:
- It feels good to hold and all buttons are easy to reach. The Intelligent preview is brilliant and easy to operate with the left hand little finger whilst holding the lens and adjustments can be made to the image then shoot with the new settings. I found this particularly useful. All information from the back screen and viewfinder are clear and easy to read once you understand what the symbols mean. It's great value for money and such a close specification to the A900 that it was an easy decision to buy. I can't fault it.
- Bad points:
- none
| Ease of use | |
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Review date: 01 Jun 2010
Product Features
| Camera Type | SLR |
|---|---|
| Resolution (Megapixels) | 24.6 |
| Screen size (Inches) | 3 |
| Type of image stabiliser | Optical Image Stabiliser |
| Touchscreen | No |
| 3D | No |
| Colour | Black |
| Media format | Compact Flash |
| Media format | MS-Pro HG Duo |
| Media format | Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Media format | Memory Stick Duo |
| PictBridge | Yes |
| Macro Mode | Yes |
| Video recorder | No |
| Manual Focus | Yes |
| Timer | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 850 |
| Flash | No |
| Body Only | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Shortest shutter speed (Fractions of a second) | 1/8000 |
| Longest shutter speed (Fractions of a second) | 1/30 |
| Waterproof | No |
| Viewfinder | Yes |
| USB port | Yes |
| Dimensions (mm) | 156.3x116.9x81.9 |
| RAW Format | Yes |
| GPS Receiver | No |
| Resolution (Pixels) | 6048x4032 |
| Max. Aperture Lens 1 | f3.5-5.6 |
| Filter Diameter (mm) Lens 1 | 55 |
| Release date | 40085 |
| Height in mm | 11.7 |
| Width in mm | 156.3 |
| Depth in mm | 8.2 |
| Serial Shot Mode | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Changeable Lens | Yes |
Manufacturer's Description
Incredible full-frame imaging quality with advanced creative features and pro-style handling.
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from House of Fraser to Tesco,
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not 400 retailers nor anyone on eBay,
but please don't worry even if it hurts,
you can look for alternatives or
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Here’s a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Q with 18-70mm lens
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Do you think that 24 Mega-Pixel is the best, and worth the price; are there any faults, like the weight or is it hard to "....." ?
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Hi Jessica
My lens is the 28- 70, not the 18 as mentioned in the review request. I'm very pleased with the Sony A850. It is a professional camera and it is therefore heavier than most, but I use a monopod and tripod often to shoot landscapes so weight is not an issue. I did but a new strap as the Sony one is very thin and cut into my neck, the Op/tech USA which is wider and distributes the weight. Google it as it's a brilliant strap.
Hope this helps
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P.S, Experienced amateur
Score 10.0/10Confirmed purchase: 27 Jun 2011