Canon EOS 1Ds vs Sony a850

This is a full comparison between the cameras Canon EOS 1Ds and Sony a850. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Canon EOS 1Ds is manufacturered by Canon but Sony a850 is from Sony. Both Canon and Sony are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Canon EOS 1Ds has a "Canon Full Frame"-sensor while Sony a850 has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** 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 (Canon)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)

Resolution

Canon EOS 1Ds has a 11 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a850 has 25 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a850 has a 122 % larger resolution than Canon EOS 1Ds. 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 a850 has a larger ISO-range than Canon EOS 1Ds. Sony a850 has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 3200 while Canon EOS 1Ds has 50 to 1250.

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 Canon EOS 1Ds
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. Canon EOS 1Ds can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds and Sony a850 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

Though, neither Canon EOS 1Ds or Sony a850 can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

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.

Canon EOS 1Ds weighs 1585 gr (equal to 3.49 lb) which is 77% heavier than Sony a850 and its 895 gr (or 1.97 lb).

Canon EOS 1Ds vs Sony a850 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Canon EOS 1Ds 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	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Name	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Manufacturer	Canon	Sony
Release Date and Price	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Release Year	2002	2009
Release Date	2002-09-24	2009-08-27
MSRP	7499 USD	1999 USD
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Camera Type	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	4064 x 2704 pixels	6048 x 4032 pixels
Megapixels	11 MP	25 MP
Image Processor	DIGIC	Bionz
Image	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
ISO Range	50 - 1250	200 - 3200
White Balance Presets	8	7
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	Yes (Sensor-Shift)
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	45	9
Lens Mount	Canon EF 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	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	2”	3”
Screen dots	120000	921600
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Live view	No	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	98%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.7×	0.74×
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Frames per second	3 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	Yes	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot Partial	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Memory Card	Compact Flash	Compact Flash Memory Stick Pro Duo
Connectivity	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
HDMI Output	No	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (N3 connector, Remote switch RS-60 E3)	Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional))
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Canon EOS 1Ds	Sony a850
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Ni-MH Pack NP-E3	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	N/A	880 shots
Width	156 mm	156 mm
Height	158 mm	117 mm
Depth	80 mm	82 mm
Weight	1585 gram	895 gram