• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 22.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Canon 5D Mark II
5D Mark II vs 5D Mark III
Successor:   Canon 5D Mark IV
5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV
General
Model Number: A850 5D Mark III
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1999.95 $3500.00
Street Price: $2,219.00 $2,079.48
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2012-03-20
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.0 oz (850 g) 33.5 oz (950 g)
includes batteries
Size: 6.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 in.
(156 x 117 x 82 mm)
6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in.
(152 x 116 x 76 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Canon
Effective Megapixels: 24.6 22.3
Sensor Format: 35mm 35mm
Sensor size: 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) 864mm2 (36.00mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.94 microns 6.25 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 79 81
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.8 24.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.2 11.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,415 2,293
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6048 x 4032 (24.4 MP, 3:2),
6048 x 3408 (20.6 MP, Other),
4400 x 2936 (12.9 MP, 3:2),
4400 x 2472 (10.9 MP, 16:9),
3984 x 2656 (10.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 2016 (6.1 MP, 3:2),
2896 x 1928 (5.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 1704 (5.2 MP, Other),
1984 x 1320 (2.6 MP, 3:2)
5760 x 3840 (22.1 MP, 3:2),
3840 x 2560 (9.8 MP, 3:2),
2880 x 1920 (5.5 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2),
720 x 480 (0.3 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) JPEG (EXIF v2.3), RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.0 6.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p)
640x480 (30p/​25p)
Movie File Format:   .MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264), ALL-I and IPB modes
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Canon EF
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection with 10 assist points, center dual-cross at f/2.8. Phase Detect : 61-point (up to 41 cross-type points); One to five cross-type AF points at f/2.8, 10 to 20 cross-type AF points at f/4, and 15 to 21 cross-type AF points at f/5.6.
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 98% coverage, 0.74x mag., 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter SLR type; fixed eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x magnification, 21mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter, fixed focusing screen, on demand grid
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.74x 0.71x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.74x 0.71x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 1,044,000 dots (348,000 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 19.0x 10.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400 Auto, 100-25600 in 1/3 or 1 EV steps, expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature from 2,500K to 9,900K, Custom (3) Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot 63-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (center, 7.2%), Spot (center, 1.5%)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:   n/a
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: n/a n/a
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: n/a n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe, PC-sync Hot Shoe, PC Sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive CF1 / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   No UHS support
Other Memory:   UDMA7 compliant
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2
Movie File Format:   .MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264), ALL-I and IPB modes
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired or wireless Optional Wired or Wireless
Connections (extended): DC input, Multi-connector, Sync termimal, Remote terminal, HDMI Type-C minijack Mini HDMI (Type C), Remote Jack, Stereo Mic Jack, Stereo Monitor Jack, PC-Sync Terminal
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.50 <0.3
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 23 Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   <0.3
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.0 6.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 23 63
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   6.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   18
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   6.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   7
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.12 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):   0.78 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):   0.060 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.154 seconds 0.095 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.061 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):   Optical Viewfinder: Full AF shutter lag, wide-area mode: 0.142s Live View: Full AF shutter lag, phase-detect: 0.823s Full AF shutter lag, contrast-detect: 0.780s Prefocused: 0.060
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.2 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   200 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 880 shots 950 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary LP-E6
Usable Battery Types: NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion Rechargeable or BG-E11 battery grip
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary LP-E6 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only). Canon EOS Digital Solution Disc
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000Pro/XP/Vista; Mac OS X (v 10.1.3+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Cost reduced Sony A900. Smaller viewfinder (98% vs 100%), slower burst mode (3 fps vs 5), wireless remote not included. New 22.3-megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC 5+ Processor, 61-point AF System, 63-zone iFCL Metering System, 6fps Bursts, Full HD video, 100% OVF, 3.2" 1.04M-dot LCD, Dual Card Slots (SD+CF), HDR Mode, Multiple Exposure Support, Scene Intelligent Auto, Comparative Playback, Dual-Axis Electronic Level, Auto Lighting Optimizer, In-Camera RAW Processing.