Canon 650D vs Sony A900
The Canon EOS 650D (called Canon T4i in some regions) and the Sony Alpha A900 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in June 2012 and September 2008. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (650D) and a full frame (A900) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24.4 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 650D and the Sony Alpha A900? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 650D and the Sony A900 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A900 is notably larger (37 percent) than the Canon 650D. Moreover, the A900 is substantially heavier (56 percent) than the 650D. It is noteworthy in this context that the A900 is splash and dust-proof, while the 650D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
Concerning battery life, the 650D gets 440 shots out of its Canon LP-E8 battery, while the A900 can take 880 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FM500H power pack.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 650D | 133 mm | 100 mm | 79 mm | 575 g | 440 | n | Jun 2012 | 849 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony A900 | 156 mm | 117 mm | 82 mm | 895 g | 880 | Y | Sep 2008 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 100D | 117 mm | 91 mm | 69 mm | 407 g | 380 | n | Mar 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 500D | 129 mm | 98 mm | 62 mm | 520 g | 400 | n | Mar 2009 | 799 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 550D | 129 mm | 98 mm | 62 mm | 530 g | 440 | n | Feb 2010 | 699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 600D | 133 mm | 100 mm | 80 mm | 570 g | 440 | n | Feb 2011 | 599 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon 700D | 133 mm | 100 mm | 79 mm | 580 g | 440 | n | Mar 2013 | 649 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 750D | 132 mm | 101 mm | 78 mm | 555 g | 440 | n | Feb 2015 | 749 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 760D | 132 mm | 101 mm | 78 mm | 565 g | 440 | n | Feb 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon 1100D | 130 mm | 100 mm | 78 mm | 495 g | 700 | n | Feb 2011 | 449 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon 1200D | 130 mm | 100 mm | 78 mm | 480 g | 500 | n | Feb 2014 | 449 | ebay.com | |
12. | Canon G1 X | 117 mm | 81 mm | 65 mm | 534 g | 250 | n | Jan 2012 | 799 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7S II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 627 g | 370 | Y | Sep 2015 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A9 | 127 mm | 96 mm | 63 mm | 673 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A99 | 147 mm | 111 mm | 78 mm | 812 g | 500 | Y | Sep 2012 | 2,799 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony A99 II | 143 mm | 104 mm | 76 mm | 849 g | 490 | Y | Sep 2016 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A850 | 156 mm | 117 mm | 82 mm | 895 g | 880 | Y | Aug 2009 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The 650D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 72 percent) than the A900, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 650D features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A900 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A900 is 160 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
With 24.4MP, the A900 offers a higher resolution than the 650D (17.9MP), but the A900 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 4.31μm for the 650D) due to its larger sensor. However, the 650D is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 8 months) than the A900, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.
The resolution advantage of the Sony A900 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A900 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.2 x 20.2 inches or 76.8 x 51.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.2 x 16.1 inches or 61.4 x 41 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.2 x 13.4 inches or 51.2 x 34.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 650D are 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.
The 650D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.
The Canon EOS 650D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A900 are ISO 200 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A900 offers substantially better image quality than the 650D (overall score 17 points higher). The advantage is based on 2 bits higher color depth, 1.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 650D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.7 | 11.2 | 722 | 62 | |
2. | Sony A900 | Full Frame | 24.4 | 6048 | 4032 | none | 23.7 | 12.3 | 1431 | 79 | |
3. | Canon 100D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.8 | 11.3 | 843 | 63 | |
4. | Canon 500D | APS-C | 15.1 | 4752 | 3168 | 1080/20p | 21.7 | 11.5 | 663 | 63 | |
5. | Canon 550D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.1 | 11.5 | 784 | 66 | |
6. | Canon 600D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.1 | 11.5 | 793 | 65 | |
7. | Canon 700D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.7 | 11.2 | 681 | 61 | |
8. | Canon 750D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.0 | 919 | 71 | |
9. | Canon 760D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.6 | 12.0 | 915 | 70 | |
10. | Canon 1100D | APS-C | 12.2 | 4272 | 2848 | 720/30p | 21.9 | 11.0 | 755 | 62 | |
11. | Canon 1200D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 21.9 | 11.3 | 724 | 63 | |
12. | Canon G1 X | 1.5-inch | 14.2 | 4352 | 3264 | 1080/24p | 21.7 | 10.8 | 644 | 60 | |
13. | Sony A7S II | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/30p | 23.6 | 13.3 | 2993 | 85 | |
14. | Sony A9 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.9 | 13.3 | 3517 | 92 | |
15. | Sony A99 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 25.0 | 14.0 | 1555 | 89 | |
16. | Sony A99 II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 25.4 | 13.4 | 2317 | 92 | |
17. | Sony A850 | Full Frame | 24.4 | 6048 | 4032 | none | 23.8 | 12.2 | 1415 | 79 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 650D indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the A900 does not. The highest resolution format that the 650D can use is 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 650D and the A900 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the A900 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 650D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the A900 has a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.53x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 650D, the Sony A900, and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 650D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
2. | Sony A900 | optical | Y | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
3. | Canon 100D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.9/s | Y | n | |
4. | Canon 500D | optical | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.4/s | Y | n | |
5. | Canon 550D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.7/s | Y | n | |
6. | Canon 600D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 3.7/s | Y | n | |
7. | Canon 700D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
8. | Canon 750D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
9. | Canon 760D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
10. | Canon 1100D | optical | n | 2.7 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
11. | Canon 1200D | optical | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
12. | Canon G1 X | optical | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 1.9/s | Y | Y | |
13. | Sony A7S II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
14. | Sony A9 | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
15. | Sony A99 | 2359 | Y | 3.0 / 1229 | full-flex | n | 1/8000s | 6.0/s | n | Y | |
16. | Sony A99 II | 2400 | Y | 3.0 / 1229 | full-flex | n | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
17. | Sony A850 | optical | Y | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.0/s | n | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 650D has one, while the A900 does not. While the built-in flash of the 650D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
The 650D has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the A900 does not have a selfie-screen.The 650D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A900 uses Compact Flash or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A900 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 650D only has one slot.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 650D and Sony Alpha A900 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 650D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
2. | Sony A900 | Y | - / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
3. | Canon 100D | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
4. | Canon 500D | Y | mono / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
5. | Canon 550D | Y | stereo / - | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Canon 600D | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Canon 700D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Canon 750D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
9. | Canon 760D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
10. | Canon 1100D | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Canon 1200D | Y | mono / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
12. | Canon G1 X | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
13. | Sony A7S II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
14. | Sony A9 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
15. | Sony A99 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
16. | Sony A99 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony A850 | Y | - / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A900 (unlike the 650D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the 650D and the A900 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A900 was replaced by the Sony A99, while the 650D was followed by the Canon 700D. Further information on the features and operation of the 650D and A900 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 650D Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A900 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 650D or the Sony A900 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 650D:
- Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/30p movies.
- Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 922k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- More compact: Is smaller (133x100mm vs 156x117mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 320g or 36 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (72 percent cheaper at launch).
- More modern: Reflects 3 years and 8 months of technical progress since the A900 launch.
Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A900:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (24.4 vs 17.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 17%.
- Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (17 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
- Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (2 bits more color depth).
- More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.1 EV of extra DR).
- Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1 stops ISO advantage).
- More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.53x).
- Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (880 versus 440) out of a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2008).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A900 is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 650D and the Sony A900 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 650D or the A900 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon 650D | 4/5 | + + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2012 | 849 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony A900 | .. | + + | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2008 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 100D | 4/5 | + | .. | 78/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon 500D | .. | + + | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2009 | 799 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon 550D | .. | + + | .. | 77/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2010 | 699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon 600D | 3/5 | o | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2011 | 599 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon 700D | .. | .. | .. | 76/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2013 | 649 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 750D | 5/5 | .. | .. | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 749 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 760D | 5/5 | + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon 1100D | .. | 80/100 | .. | 69/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2011 | 449 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon 1200D | 3/5 | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2014 | 449 | ebay.com | |
12. | Canon G1 X | 5/5 | + | .. | 76/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2012 | 799 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7S II | 5/5 | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2015 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A9 | 5/5 | + + | 4.8/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A99 | 5/5 | .. | .. | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 2,799 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony A99 II | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A850 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 75/100 | .. | 4.5/5 | Aug 2009 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
Specifications: Canon 650D vs Sony A900
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Digital single lens reflex |
Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | Sony A mount lenses |
Launch Date | June 2012 | September 2008 |
Launch Price | USD 849 | USD 2,999 |
Sensor Specs | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 22.3 x 14.9 mm | 35.9 x 24.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 332.27 mm2 | 861.6 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 26.8 mm | 43.2 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.6x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 17.9 Megapixels | 24.4 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 5184 x 3456 pixels | 6048 x 4032 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 4.31 μm | 5.94 μm |
Pixel Density | 5.39 MP/cm2 | 2.83 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | no Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12,800 ISO | 200 - 3,200 ISO |
ISO Boost | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 100 - 6,400 ISO |
Image Processor | DIGIC 5 | BIONZ |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 62 | 79 |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.7 | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.2 | 12.3 |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 722 | 1431 |
Screen Specs | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Optical viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.53x | 0.74x |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | Control Panel |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 922k dots |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | Fixed screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | no Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | 5 shutter flaps/s |
Image Stabilization | Lens stabilization only | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | CF or MS cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
Connectivity Specs | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | mini HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | no MIC socket |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | no Wifi |
Body Specs | Canon 650D | Sony A900 |
Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Canon LP-E8 | Sony NP-FM500H |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 440 shots per charge | 880 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
133 x 100 x 79 mm (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in) |
156 x 117 x 82 mm (6.1 x 4.6 x 3.2 in) |
Camera Weight | 575 g (20.3 oz) | 895 g (31.6 oz) |
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