Sony A7 III

QUICKFACT SHEET

The Sony A7 III (aka a7 III, α7 III, Alpha 7 III) is a pro-level/expert-level full-frame mirrorless camera for pros and photography enthusiasts. It is compact for a full-frame camera and is fully featured with many professional-grade features, accessories and lenses. It offers in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This is the mirrorless camera that finally convinced many pros that mirrorless technology had finally caught up to DSLR technology and that they could safely switch from their large, bulky and heavy DSLR to a more compact and lighter mirrorless camera.

To understand a bit more the accomplishment of the Sony engineers, consider that the Sony A7 III uses a full-frame sensor which is larger than an APS-C sensor, which is itself larger than a 4/3″ sensor. So, technically speaking, we should expect a 4/3″ mirrorless camera to be smaller than an APS-C mirrorless camera, which should be smaller than a full-frame mirrorless camera. But that is not the case with the Sony α7 III: It (a full-frame mirrorless camera) is smaller than most APS-C and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless cameras!

Click the picture above for a size comparison of the Sony A7 III (full-frame) with the Fujifilm X-T4 (APS-C) and the Olympus E-M1 Mark III (MFT), courtesy of camerasizes.com. As you can see, the Sony A7 III is smaller than both.

The A7 III allows you to compose your shots using the high resolution 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF). An Anti-flicker shooting mode reduces the effect of flickering that tends to occur under artificial lighting.

Or, you can use the 2.95-inch 921.6K-dot Tilt Touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera. The LCD tilts up about 107° and down about 41°. The LCD is also touch-screen so you can tap a point on the screen to lock focus, and use touch gestures to zoom or swipe right and left when reviewing images.

The Hybrid AF (Auto Focus) system uses a total of 693 phase detection AF points and 425 Contrast-Detection AF points to quickly and precisely lock focus on your subject. Tracking AF performance has been improved. For sharp portraits, Enhanced Real-time Eye AF reliably locks focus on your subject’s eye (Left, Right, Auto), even when shooting movies. For those who love to shoot pets, a new Real-time Eye AF for Animals automatically detects and tracks the eyes of animals. The AF range is EV -3-20. Other useful focus features include Focus Magnifier, Zebra, and Focus Peaking.

Other features include Continuous Shooting at 10fps with AF/AE, a hot shoe to accept an external speedlite, Wireless Flash Control, RAW, PASM Shooting Modes, ±5 stops Exposure Compensation, Shutter Speed from 1/8000 sec. to 30 sec. (flash-sync shutter speed of 1/250 sec.; when using Hi-speed sync: 1/125-1/8000 sec.), Picture Effect, Creative Style, Scene Modes, and Silent Mode.

The A7 III provides a wide array of functions to facilitate workflows of professional videographers, including clean HDMI output, time code / user bits (TC/UB), rec. control, marker display/setting, zebra function, Slow and Quick Motion, simultaneous proxy movie recording, extraction and separate storage of a still from a movie, and Gamma Display Assist function, among others.

Supporting a wide range of HDR movie production needs, the A7 III offers S-Log3 as well as S-Log2 gamma curves for great flexibility to fine-tune images through color grading operation in post-production, and a new HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) picture profile for instant HDR workflow. (Color grading is not required to enjoy instant playback of high-quality, true-to-life images with no blocked shadows or blown highlights on an HDR (HLG) compatible TV.)

There are dual card slots: Slot I accepts UHS-I/II cards; Slot II accepts UHS-I cards or Memory Stick Duo cards.

Though the A7 III has major buttons and dials sealed, and sealing is provided throughout the body to minimize entry of dust and moisture (and therefore can be considered somewhat weather resistant), it does not sport an industry rating nor is it rated as freeze-proof. In fact, Sony is careful to post a disclaimer that the A7 III is “Not guaranteed to be 100% dust- and moisture-proof.”

There are a number of connectivity features that make the A7 III practical for those who post to social media sites. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mean that you can store GPS information, do remote Live View shooting and easily transfer images to your smart phone or tablet.

Of course, the Sony A7 III is supported by a system of high quality lenses, vertical grip, external flashes, microphones, monitor hood, shooting grip with wireless remote commander, grip extension, and software that further expand the shooting system.

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The Sony A7 III (2018, US $1,999.99), together with the A7R III, precipitated the exodus of professional photographers from DSLR to mirrorless technology. The exceptional full-frame image quality, fast performance and various advantages that only mirrorless could provide convinced them that they could produce the same high quality images their craft demanded with a smaller and lighter camera. If you need or prefer to shoot onto a full-frame sensor, we highly recommend the Sony A7 III.

For those who shoot landscape, check out the Sony A7R III (2017, US $2,499.99) with 42.4MP or the Sony A7R IV (2019, US $3,499.99) with 61MP.

If you shoot sports events professionally, check out the Sony A9 II (2019, US $4,499.99).

If you instead shoot a lot in challenging low-light conditions and also needs as an excellent video camera, you may want to check out the Sony A7S III (2020, US $3,499.99) with 12MP, a standard ISO range of ISO 80-102400 for stills and movies (expandable ISO range: 40-409600 for stills, 80-409600 for movies), Hybrid Phase- and Contrast-Detection AF with an AF low-light performance of -6EV.

If the Sony A7 III is the camera that is best for you, please support this site by ordering it as well as accessories from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years (prices are in USD):

• Sony A7 III

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Related Links:

• Sony A7 III Press Release
• Sony A7 III Technical Specs
• Sony A7 III Instruction Manual
• Sony A7 III Software & App Download
• Sony A7 III Firmware Update