• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  •  
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Panasonic G1
G1 vs G2
Successor:   Panasonic G3
G2 vs G3
General
Model Number: A850 G2
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1999.95 $799.95
Street Price: $2,219.00  
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2010-05-30
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.0 oz (850 g) 21.8 oz (618 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 6.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 in.
(156 x 117 x 82 mm)
4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in.
(124 x 84 x 74 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Panasonic
Effective Megapixels: 24.6 12.1
Sensor Format: 35mm 4/3
Sensor size: 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.94 microns 4.33 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 4:3, 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 53
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.8 21.2
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.2 10.3
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,415 493
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)
4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2672 (10.7 MP, 3:2),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
2816 x 2112 (5.9 MP, 4:3),
2816 x 1880 (5.3 MP, 3:2),
2816 x 1584 (4.5 MP, 16:9),
2992 x 2992 (9.0 MP, 1:1),
2112 x 2112 (4.5 MP, 1:1),
2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP, 4:3),
2048 x 1360 (2.8 MP, Other),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
1504 x 1504 (2.3 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) JPEG (EXIF v2.21), RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.0 3.3
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (60/​50/​30)
848x480 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
Movie File Format:   AVCHD Lite (H.264), MotionJPEG
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Micro Four Thirds
Lens: n/a Panasonic 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Lumix G VARIO MEGA O.I.S
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):   28 - 84mm
Focal Length (actual):   14 - 42mm
Zoom Ratio:   3.00x
Aperture Range:   f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f.5.6 - 22 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   30 cm to Infinity
11.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 2x or 4x
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. Contrast Detection: Face Detect, AF Tracking, 23-area, 1 area, Touch AF (4 modes)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 98% coverage, 0.74x mag., 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter EVF; 1,440K dots eq., 1.4x mag., 17.5mm eyepoint, -4 to +4 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a  
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.74x 0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.74x 1.40x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 460,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 19.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200  
Minimum ISO (native): 200  
ISO Settings: Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400 Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, Intelligent ISO
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, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, Flash, White Set 1, White Set 2, Color Temperature Setting (2,500-10,000K in 100K steps)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot 144-zone Intelligent Multiple, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:   Portrait (Normal/Soft Skin/Outdoor/Indoor/Creative), Scenery (Normal/Nature/Architecture/Creative), Sports (Normal/Outdoor/Indoor/Creative), Close-up (Flower/Food/Objects/Creative), Night Portrait (Night Portrait/Night Scenery/Illuminations/Creative), SCN (Sunset/Party/Baby 1,2/Pet/Periph. Defocus)
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10, 10 (3 images) seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No Yes
Flash Modes: n/a Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 11.0 m / 36.1 ft.
Flash Range Description: n/a Lens dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe, PC-sync Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) RAW, RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format:   AVCHD Lite (H.264), MotionJPEG
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 No
Headphone Jack: No No
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 DMW-RSL1 cable remote
Connections (extended): DC input, Multi-connector, Sync termimal, Remote terminal, HDMI Type-C minijack 2.5mm stereo mic/remote socket, combined AV/USB connector, mini HDMI (Type-C)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40 0.70
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.50 0.78
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 23 5
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.0 3.3
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 23 9
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.42 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.154 seconds 0.135 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):   0.68 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.120 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 1.0 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.7 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   4.0 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   360 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 880 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary H-FS014042 7.2v 1250mAh
Usable Battery Types: NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only). PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition, SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE, QuickTime, USB Driver
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. 720p HD Movies (AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG), Touch-screen Articulating LCD, 2.5mm Stereo Mic/Remote Socket, Mini HDMI Type-C Connector. Available in black, red or blue.