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Canon 7D vs Sony A850

Portability
56
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62
Canon EOS 7D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Canon 7D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 860g - 148 x 111 x 74mm
  • Launched November 2009
  • Refreshed by Canon 7D MII
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Canon 7D versus Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the 7D (18MP) and A850 (25MP) and the 7D (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) have different sensor size.

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The 7D was brought out 5 months before the A850 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 7D scores vs the A850 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 7D over the Sony A850

 7D A850 

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Canon 7D

 A850 7D 
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Canon 7D and Sony A850

 7D A850 
IntroducedNovember 2009April 2010Same generation
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Canon 7D has got outer measurements of 148mm x 111mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") along with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) while the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Canon 7D versus Sony A850 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the 7D versus the A850.

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 7D and A850 is 56 and 54 respectively.

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 7D and A850.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 7D due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A850 will produce greater detail having its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 7D as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A850 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
72
manual focus
high sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Canon 7D Street photography details
Sony A850 Street photography details
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Canon 7D Sports photography features
Sony A850 Sports photography features
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
low battery (800 CIPA)
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high sensor resolution (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 7D Travel photography features
Sony A850 Travel photography features
53
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (800 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
55
weather proof
high sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 7D Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
63
focusing manually
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no image stabilization
low battery (800 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high sensor resolution (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
does not have liveview
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 7D Vlogging info
Sony A850 Vlogging info
28
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Canon 7D vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 7D and Sony A850
 Canon EOS 7DSony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS 7D Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-11-06 2010-04-15
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 19 9
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 326 143
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT color LCD, liquid-crystal monitor TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 860g (1.90 lb) 895g (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 148 x 111 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 79
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 12.2
DXO Low light score 854 1415
Other
Battery life 800 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive cards Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One 2
Launch pricing $1,050 $0