• APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200

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Differences

Nikon D300S advantages over Sony A850

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 0.5 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More cross-type AF points
    15 vs 1
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More AF points
    51 vs 9
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony A850 advantages over Nikon D300S

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,415 vs 787 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.74x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.6 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Both provide
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Nikon D300S
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  • Body Only
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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A850

Review Excerpt

  • Rugged construction; 51-point AF system capable of sophisticated AF tracking; Large, bright optical viewfinder; 7 fps JPEG or 12-bit RAW burst mode; HD Video capture.

  • 14-bit RAW mode slows continuous shooting from 7 fps to 2.7 fps; Somewhat slow AF for a camera at this level, especially in 51-point auto-area mode; Video capture tops out at 720p24.

  • Read our Nikon D300S Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D90

Nikon D300S
Nikon D90
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • External Mic Jack
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Nikon D300S vs Nikon D90

Sony A850
Nikon D90
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A850 vs Nikon D90

Compared to Sony A900

Nikon D300S
Sony A900
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $3000
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony A900

Sony A850
Sony A900
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $3000
  • 35mm
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Sony A850 vs Sony A900

Compared to Canon 50D

Nikon D300S
Canon 50D
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Less shutter lag
  • More pixels

Compare Nikon D300S vs Canon 50D

Sony A850
Canon 50D
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A850 vs Canon 50D

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D300S
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony A850
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony A850 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D300S
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $2799
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D300S vs Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2799
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A850 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compare Other Cameras?