Sony α7 III

Sony α7 III
Overview
MakerSony
TypeFull-Frame Sony α (Alpha)
ReleasedApril 10, 2018
Intro price$1,999 USD body, $2,199 USD kit (28-70mm Zoom Lens)
Lens
Lens mountSony E-mount
LensInterchangeable
Compatible lensesSony FE-mount lenses
Sensor/medium
Sensor typeBSI-CMOS
Sensor size35.6 × 23.8 mm (Full frame type)
Maximum resolution6000 × 4000 (24 megapixels)
Recording mediumSD, SDHC, or SDXC memory card
Focusing
Focus areas693 focus points
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesP/A/S/M (stills/movie)
Flash
FlashNo
Shutter
ShutterMechanical, Electronic
Shutter speeds1/8000 s to 30 s, BULB
Continuous shooting10 frames per second
Viewfinder
ViewfinderYes (electronic)
Image processing
Image processorBIONZ X
White balanceAuto, Multiple preset options, Custom white balance
General
Video recordingXAVC S 4K, XAVC S HD, AVCHD
LCD screen76 mm (3 in) with 921,600 dots
BatteryNP-FZ100
AV Port(s)HDMI D (Micro)
Data Port(s)USB 2.0 Micro-B, USB 3.0 Type-C, 802.11/WiFi
Dimensions127 by 96 by 74 mm (5.0 by 3.8 by 2.9 in)
Weight650 g including battery
Made inChina and Thailand
Chronology
PredecessorSony α7 II
SuccessorSony α7 IV

The Sony α7 III (model ILCE-7M3) is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera manufactured by Sony.[1][2][3] It was announced[4] on 26 February 2018 as the successor to the Sony α7 II and available April 10, 2018. Described by Sony as "the basic model," the camera shares many features with the high-end Sony α7R III and α9 models.[5] It was succeeded by the Sony α7 IV, announced on October 21, 2021.

Features

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The camera features several advancements over the previous model, the α7 II, incorporating some features from the higher-end α7R III and α9.[6]

  • 24 MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor
  • 693 Phase Detection AF Points with 93% coverage, inherited from α9 and 425 contrast AF points
  • Continuous eye autofocus mode called Eye AF with High Tracking ability
  • 5-axis optical in-body image stabilization with a 5.0 step shutter speed advantage
  • 10 fps continuous shooting (mechanical or silent)
  • Multiple 4K (3840x2160) video modes: 4K/24p oversampled from 6K sensor output, or 4K/30p oversampled from 5K cropped portion of sensor
  • 15 stops of dynamic range
  • Full HD (1920x1080) video at 120 fps
  • Larger 'Z'-series (NP-FZ100) battery from α9 and α7R III that is rated at 710 shots (CIPA measurement) - offering the world's longest battery life of any mirrorless camera
  • Upgraded operability and functionality including addition of joystick for adjusting focus points, Dual SD Card Slots, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.1 Gen 1) USB Type-C Terminal
  • ISO range from 100 to 51,200 (expandable to 204,800)
  • Weather sealed, magnesium alloy body
  • No built-in flash.
  • 2.36 million dot OLED viewfinder with 0.78x magnification
  • Supports 4 different video file formats (XAVC S 4K, XAVC S HD, or AVCHD)

Improvements over the Sony α7 II

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The Sony α7 III improved in a number of aspects compared to its predecessor, the α7 II, which was released four years earlier in November, 2014.

  • 4K video modes and 120fps full HD video instead of the A7 II's limited full HD (1920x1080) movie modes.
  • Continuous burst increased to 10fps instead of 5fps.
  • Maximum ISO sensitivity of 51,200 instead of 25,600.
  • Upgraded sensor with 693 Phase Detection auto-focus points vs. 117 Phase Detection AF points.
  • Newer Z battery system (NP-FZ100) rated to 710 shots instead of 340.
  • Battery capacity 7.2V / 16.4Wh (2280mAh).
  • Dual SD card slots instead of a single card slot.
  • Bluetooth for increased phone communication options.
  • Introduction of a touch screen but lower resolution 922,000 dot display instead of 1.23 million.
  • Newer ergonomic layout similar to the earlier A9 and A7R III including the addition of a joystick.

The camera's rounded feature set and launch price were highly praised. Reviewers noted it as a flexible and competitive tool for all types of photography.[6][7][8][9][10]

Issues

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The Sony A7 III does not have a vertical AA filter, it only has a horizontal one. It improves sharpness, but also creates a visible amount of moiré on clothes and hair.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hall 2018-03-27T16:05:32.85ZCameras, Phil (27 March 2018). "Sony Alpha A7 III review". TechRadar. Retrieved 31 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Sony A7 III review: A peerless full-frame mirrorless camera". Engadget. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. ^ Topham, Michael (October 2018). "Sony A7 III Review". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Sony A7III press release: "Sony Expands Full-frame Mirrorless Lineup with Introduction of New α7 III Camera" - sonyalpharumors". sonyalpharumors. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  5. ^ Sony | Camera Channel (26 February 2018), Sony | α | α7 III - Unveil, retrieved 25 November 2018
  6. ^ a b Carey Rose, Rishi Sanyal, Dan Bracaglia (23 April 2018). "Sony a7 III Review". DPReview. Retrieved 20 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Fisher, Jim (2 May 2019). "Sony a7 III Review". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ Cooke, Alex (7 June 2018). "The Camera You Should Want: Fstoppers Reviews the Sony a7 III". Fstoppers. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. ^ Etienne, Stefan (30 March 2018). "Sony A7 III and A7R III review: mirrorless magic". The Verge. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. ^ Mathies, Daven (15 November 2018). "Sony A7 III review". www.digitaltrends.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Sony a7 III Review". DPReview. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
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