The Sony A7 III may be the company’s first full-frame option, but its specifications actually put it at a higher level
Our Opinion
The Sony A7 III can hardly make mistakes. Its specifications make it an amazing all-rounder, and its such a powerful price is actually surprising. Its processing and control layout is not perfect, other cameras may occupy the headlines in one area or another but rarely can maintain consistent capabilities within such a wide range of disciplines. What a great camera!
What GOOD
- 10fps continuous shooting
- The highly precise autofocus system
- 4K video function
What Not
- Large lens unbalance
- No drive or focus mode dial
- Good, not good, continuous shooting buffer
Sony A7 III is the eighth Alpha A7 model to be released, and there are actually only three A7 product lines. confused? We will try to explain. The A7 series is a basic all-around choice, and the A7S series is a low-resolution, high-speed action, and video expert. At the same time, the A7R is the flagship high-resolution model for photographers who want the highest image quality.
On the surface, the Sony A7 III is the cheapest and worst-spec camera in the latest Sony A7 series. In fact, its price, continuous shooting frame rate, and over-sampled full-frame 4K video make it a powerful all-round camera that qualifies as the list of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras currently available to us.
Therefore, what Sony is doing is constantly updating each of these three main camera series with new versions. The A7S series is still in the Mark II stage, while the A7R has reached the Mark III (we evaluated it here). Now, the basic A7 series has been upgraded to the Mark III option.
We are talking about "basic", but this camera is still a long way from it. The A7 III may be a reasonable entry point for the Sony A7 full-frame mirrorless camera series, but the technology and features of Sony's new camera actually make it unique.
In fact, when we choose three opponents to fight against it, none of them cost more than two to three times more than its full-frame sensor, 4K video, 10fps shooting, and even the complex combination of its autofocus system.
With its A-series mirrorless cameras, Sony has indeed stimulated the professional full-frame camera market, enabling Canon and Nikon DSLRs to attract many professionals into the new world of mirrorless imaging. For whiskers priced under £2,000/$2,000, the A7 III maybe Sony's most compelling DSLR alternative-not only for professionals, but also for enthusiasts.
Main Features
- Model: ilce-7m3
- Sensor: 24.2MP full frame Exmor R CMOS, 35.6×23.8mm
- Image processor: BIONZ X
- AF point: 693-point phase detection autofocus/ 425-point contrast detection autofocus
- ISO range: 100-51,200 (expandable to 50-204,800)
- Maximum image size: 6,000 x 4,000
- Metering area: 1,200
- Video Recording: 4K Ultra HD to 30/24fps, Full HD Quality up to 120fps
- Viewfinder: XGA OLED type, 2,359,296 points
- External SD Card: 2 MS, SD, SDHC, SDXC (1 UHS-II)
- LCD: 3-inch tilt touch screen, 921,600 dots
- Maximum number of continuous shooting: 10fps (177 JPEG, 89 compressed RAW, 40 uncompressed original)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth
- Dimensions: 126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7mm
- Weight: 650g (including battery and memory card)
Just like its predecessors A7 II and A7, A7 III has a 24MP sensor. Camera Resolution might be the main thing a camera purchaser should search for, and this might be the most subtle particular of the camera. However, it is different from previous sensors. The item has a back-lit up the configuration to improve the light-social event impact and related to the front-end LSI and BIONZ X processor, it can deliver quicker information perusing and processing speed than before.
The final product is improved clamor and improved ISO execution, giving top-notch 4K video and a noteworthy 10fps nonstop shooting speed, which is twice that of the past A7 II.
Without enough buffering capacity, high-speed shooting is not good. Although the A7 III cannot compete with sports experts such as Canon EOS-1D X Mark II or Nikon D5, it has a larger buffer than ordinary audiophiles. camera. It can catch up to 177 JPEGs, 89 compacted Raw records, or 40 uncompressed Raw pictures in one burst.
The criticism of the previous model is that once the buffer is filled, you must clear it before you can use the camera menu, but Sony has fixed the problem with the A7 III. You may also find that the 10fps viewfinder image is not sufficiently responsive to following fast or unstable shooting subjects, but there is an 8fps "live view" mode that can provide a faster and more stable viewfinder image.
It is amazing to get 10fps shooting speed on a full-frame camera at this price, but Sony has taken another step by adopting the autofocus technology of its flagship A9 sports camera. On the surface, it has 693 phase-detection AF points, covering 93% of the image area, plus 425 contrast-detection AF points, which is almost the most powerful AF system on the market.
You can choose from wide-area autofocus, area autofocus, center autofocus, flexible point mode (you can change the size of the autofocus area), and now you can choose the extended flexible point mode, in which the camera still The focus will be on the selected area on the subject that is away from the outdoors. Portrait photographers also have an eye autofocus mode. On the A7 III, this mode can now be used in continuous autofocus and single autofocus modes.
There is also a sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization system with claimed 5-level shake compensation, and two memory card slots (although only one of them is compatible with UHS-II).
The battery can be charged inside the camera via a USB cable, or for faster charging, there is an optional BC-QZ1 battery charger. The battery life of this new battery NP-FZ100 is 2.2 times that of the A7 II NP-FW50, and it can take 710 photos on a single charge (610 photos can be taken when using the electronic viewfinder).
If we list all the functions that the camera has, have, or have, then there will be no room to say whether it has any benefits. This is the next point.
Handling And Build
If the A7 III’s armor has gaps, it’s the same here as other A7 models. The A7 III is very small for a full-frame camera. This is partly due to its mirrorless construction and also due to the originality of its designers. Unfortunately, Sony’s lenses, especially the best lenses, are not small. Therefore, you can choose a lens to match it, such as FE 24-105mm f / 4 G OSS or FE 24-70mm f / 2.8 GM, the A7 III does feel very heavy. With this in mind, it may be worth considering using the optional VG-C3EM battery grip, especially if you are doing a lot of telephoto-based sports photography.
It is a pity that there is no dedicated drive mode dial or AF mode/area lever. Continuous shooting and autofocus are the two main functions of this camera, so I hope to reflect them in the dedicated external controls. You can assign these controls and more to the four function buttons of the camera, so if you need them, just click.
Other than that, there is almost nothing to criticize. The electronic viewfinder and LCD display do not have the highest resolutions we have seen on mirrorless cameras, but they are sufficient, and the 0.78x magnification of the viewfinder means it is both sharp and large.
The rear LCD screen has an up/down tilt function, but it will not swing sideways. You can click to position the focus, or even drag it around the frame. Or, if you don’t like touch screen interaction, you can use the rear joystick (multiple selections) controls instead.
The main dial has a reassuringly firm and positive feel. There are three control dials-one at the front on the top of the handle, one at the rear on the right side of the viewfinder eyepiece, and the other around the four-route regulator close to the LCD screen.
The A7 III’s menu system is very powerful, with at least 35 screens divided into five parts, as well as a user-definable "My Menu". It may take a while to find the settings you need, especially when modifying camera controls or default behavior, but thankfully,
Performance
The performance of the A7 III is also very attractive. The viewfinder has a little lag or tears at 10 fps, but if you need it, you can also use the "live view" mode at 8 fps, which has a faster display response.
The frame coverage (far better than DSLR) and speed of the autofocus system are equally impressive. In AF tracking mode, you may sometimes lose contact with a fast, unstable subject, and it takes a few frames to lock again, but to make the subject move requires some rather wild movements. As long as you can anticipate the movement of the subject and keep it within the selected focus area, the A7 III will do the rest.
Following a moving subject also requires the photographer’s skill, and the A7 III’s focus area and mode range mean there are settings for almost every situation.
The SteadyShot system is indeed convincing. Sony claims to have the advantage of 5 stations, but the small print is "CIPA standard". Pitch/yaw shaking. Flat T * FE 50mm F1.4 ZA lens long exposure NR off. "
In our tests with the FE 24-105mm f / 4 G OSS and FE 24-70mm f / 2.8 GM lenses, we started to shake the lens and the shutter speed was two to three stops slower than normal.
The result will always depend on the conditions, the lens used, the distance of the subject, and the ability of your hand to hold, but the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II tested at the same time gives more reliable and consistent results, maybe a one-stop-shop The advantage surpasses Sony.
The image stabilization system certainly cannot guarantee to obtain clear pictures, and some stabilization is better than no stabilization. In other respects, the performance of the A7 III is top-notch.
Judgment
A7 III hardly makes mistakes. Its specifications make it an amazing multifunctional product, and its features are so powerful that its price is actually a bit surprising. Its handling and control layout is not perfect (fans may disagree!), but due to its autofocus and continuous shooting performance, this was quickly forgotten, let alone its 4K video capabilities.
The 24MP resolution may disappoint some people. Recently, many high-resolution full-frame cameras such as Canon EOS 5DS, Nikon D850, and Sony's own A7R III have annoyed us a lot. Even the 36.4MP sensor of the Pentax K-1 Mark II beats the A7 III.
But the pixels are not all, and 24MP is still enough to produce high-quality enlarged images and meet most conventional business profiles-this is what makes the A7 III amazingly blending speed, performance, and value for money. Other cameras may occupy the headlines in one field or another, but consistently possess such powerful capabilities in such a wide range of disciplines.
Competitor of Sony A7 III
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV has a 30MP sensor, but its 4K video has a large crop factor and slow continuous shooting. Its cost is also much higher.
Nikon D750
The Nikon D750 shows that you can get a 24MP full-frame camera that is cheaper than the A7 III, but you cannot get 4K video or A7 III's 10fps continuous shooting.
Sony A7R III
This is a tricky choice. The Sony A7R III beats a mile in resolution, but the A7 III rivals it elsewhere, surpassing it in terms of autofocus options and price! There is now a higher resolution Sony A7R IV