Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850
94 Imaging
35 Features
24 Overall
30
54 Imaging
68 Features
60 Overall
64
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
- 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
- Introduced February 2009
- Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
(Full Review)
- 25MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- 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
- Announced April 2010
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Overview
Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the SD970 IS (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or MThe SD970 IS was released 14 months prior to the A850 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SD970 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SD970 IS grades vs the A850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are viewable at Canon SD970 IS Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Sony A850
SD970 IS | A850 |
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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Canon SD970 IS
A850 | SD970 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | April 2010 | February 2009 | Newer by 14 months | |
Manual focus | Dial accurate focusing | |||
Screen resolution | 922k | 461k | Sharper screen (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Sony A850
SD970 IS | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
Screen dimension | 3" | 3" | Identical screen sizing | |
Selfie screen | Neither offers selfie screen | |||
Touch screen | Lacking Touch screen |
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison
When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS offers physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).
Check the Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SD970 IS vs the A850.
Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SD970 IS and A850 is 94 and 54 respectively.
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and A850.
As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SD970 IS due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A850 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Canon SD970 IS vs Sony A850 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Canon | Sony |
Model | Canon PowerShot SD970 IS | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 |
Otherwise known as | Digital IXUS 990 IS | - |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Advanced DSLR |
Introduced | 2009-02-18 | 2010-04-15 |
Body design | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 25MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6048 x 4032 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | - | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 200 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 37-185mm (5.0x) | - |
Maximum aperture | f/3.2-5.7 | - |
Macro focus range | 2cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 461 thousand dot | 922 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 98% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.74x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0fps | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 3.50 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/250 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 160 gr (0.35 lb) | 895 gr (1.97 lb) |
Dimensions | 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 79 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.2 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 1415 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 880 pictures |
Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-5L | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus | Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo |
Storage slots | Single | Two |
Pricing at release | - | $0 |