Sony a7 IV vs Sony a850
This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a7 IV and Sony a850. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.
Manufacturing
These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.
Sony a7 IV were released 2021 and Sony a850 was released 2009. That is a 12 years difference. In tech, this period can be of interest since technology is always improving, etc.Camera | Released |
Sony a7 IV | 2021 |
Sony a850 | 2009 |
Type of camera
Sony a7 IV is a Mirrorless camera while Sony a850 is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.
Sensors / crop factor
Both these cameras have the same sorts of sensor (called "Sony Full Frame") which means that if you compare these cameras side by side the lenses will also have the same experienced focal length. Since both cameras have a Full frame sensor there will be no crop factor.
Camera | Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 ** |
Sony a7 IV | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
Sony a850 | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"
Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Resolution
Sony a7 IV has a 33 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a850 has 25 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:
Camera | Megapixels |
Sony a7 IV |
33 MP
32741376 pixels 7008 x 4672 |
Sony a850 |
25 MP
24385536 pixels 6048 x 4032 |
Sony a7 IV has a 34 % larger resolution than Sony a850. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.
ISO range
Sony a7 IV has a larger ISO-range than Sony a850. Sony a7 IV has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 51200 while Sony a850 has 200 to 3200.
Camera | ISO Range |
Sony a7 IV | 100-51200 |
Sony a850 | 200-3200 |
Autofocus and lens compatibility
Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.
Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a7 IV
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a850
Pictures per second
Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a7 IV can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds and Sony a850 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds.
Camera | FPS (Frames per second) |
Sony a7 IV | 10 |
Sony a850 | 3 |
Ability to record movies
It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.
When comparing these two cameras there is only one of them that can shoot movies and that is Sony a7 IV. Unfortunately Sony a850 does not support recording movies and movie clips.
Weight
The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.
Sony a850 weighs 895 gr (equal to 1.97 lb) which is 36% heavier than Sony a7 IV and its 659 gr (or 1.45 lb).
Camera | Weight |
Sony a7 IV | 659 gr 1.45 lb |
Sony a850 | 895 gr 1.97 lb |
Sony a7 IV vs Sony a850 Specs
Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a7 IV and Sony a850, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.
Product |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Name | Sony a7 IV | Sony a850 |
Manufacturer | Sony | Sony |
Release Date and Price |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Release Year | 2021 | 2009 |
Release Date | 2021-10-21 | 2009-08-27 |
MSRP | 2499 USD | 1999 USD |
Buy it today | ||
Camera Type |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Camera Type | Mirrorless | DSLR |
Sensor |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Sensor Size | Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) | Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) |
Sensor Type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Resolution | 7008 x 4672 pixels | 6048 x 4032 pixels |
Megapixels | 33 MP | 25 MP |
Image Processor | BIONZ XR | Bionz |
Image |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
ISO Range | 100 - 51200 | 200 - 3200 |
White Balance Presets | 7 | 7 |
Custom White Balance | Yes | Yes |
Image Stabilization |
Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis)) |
Yes (Sensor-Shift) |
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating | 5.5 stops | 0 stops |
Uncompressed format | RAW | RAW |
Optics & Focus |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Autofocus Motor | Yes | Yes |
Autofocus |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView |
Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous |
Focus Points | 759 | 9 |
Lens Mount |
Sony E See Compatible Lenses |
Sony A See Compatible Lenses |
Focal Length Multiplier |
Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm |
Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm |
Screen & Viewfinder |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Articulated LCD | Fully articulated | Fixed |
Screen size | 3” | 3” |
Screen dots | 1036800 | 921600 |
Touch screen | Yes | No |
Screen type | TFT LCD | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Live view | Yes | No |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 98% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | 0.74× |
Viewfinder Resolution | 3686400 | N/A |
Photography features |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Frames per second | 10 fps | 3 fps |
Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Built-in Flash | No | No |
Built-in Flash Range | N/A | N/A |
External Flash | Yes | Yes |
Self-Timer | Yes | Yes |
Time-lapse | No | No |
Metering modes |
Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average |
Multi Center Weighted Spot |
Exposure Compensation | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) | +/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
Videography features |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Video recording | Yes | No |
Video format |
MPEG4 H.264 H.265 XAVC-S XAVC-HS |
N/A |
Video resolution |
1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 |
N/A |
Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
Built-in Speakers | Yes | No |
Storage |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Memory Card |
Compact Flash Express SD/SDHC |
Compact Flash Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Connectivity |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
HDMI Output | Yes | Yes |
Microphone Port | Yes | No |
Headphone Port | Yes | No |
Wireless |
Yes Built-in (802.11ac (dual band) + Bluetooth) |
No |
Remote Control | Yes (wireless or smartphone) | Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional)) |
GPS | No | No |
Body & Dimensions |
Sony a7 IV |
Sony a850 |
Enviromentally sealed | Yes | No |
Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery Details |
NP-FZ100 lithium-ion battery charger
|
Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger
|
Battery Life (CIPA) | 580 shots | 880 shots |
Width | 131 mm | 156 mm |
Height | 96 mm | 117 mm |
Depth | 80 mm | 82 mm |
Weight | 659 gram | 895 gram |