Sony A850 has a
25.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. On the other hand, Sony A65 has a
24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor.
Below you can see the A850 and A65 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A850 and Sony A65 Cameras
As seen above, Sony A850 has a 2.4x Larger sensor area than Sony A65. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony A850 and Sony A65 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A850 has scored 79, 5 points higher than A65.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony A850
79
23.8 bits
12.2 Evs
1415 ISO
Sony A65
74
23.4 bits
12.6 Evs
717 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony A850
or the
Sony A65 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Full frame versus APS-C),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
