The new Sony Alpha 7 III
Sony meets full format - again
Sony is now entering the third round with the Alpha 7. The camera is aimed at both enthusiastic amateur and budding professional photographers. Sony places the Alpha 7 III behind its sister models Alpha 7R III and the flagship Alpha 9 but it borrows heavily from both of them. The result is a real top model that meets most photographic requirements. We show first impressions of the new full-frame camera.
Highlights of the Sony Alpha 7 III at a glance
- 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor with 24.2 MP and back-illuminated sensor
- Sensitivity range up to ISO 51,200 (expandable to ISO 50 - 204,800 for photos)
- Fast hybrid AF with 693 AF points for phase detection and 425 AF points for contrast detection
- Fast continuous shooting with up to 10 frames per second and AF/AE tracking
- 4K HDR movie recording function
A real all-rounder.
The Sony Alpha series is becoming increasingly popular. Sony has now introduced the new generation of the Alpha 7 and is also setting standards with it. This is because Sony has installed a newly developed, back-illuminated image sensor in the Alpha 7 III. With 24 megapixels, this has a remarkable performance and can deliver detailed and low-noise images, especially in low light conditions. The system is supplemented by a 5-axis image stabilizer, which can compensate for five f-stops. Those who want to film with the camera will also get their money's worth, as the moving images now deliver a greater dynamic range of 14 light values. But the special highlight is the 4K HDR function. Sony not only supports Ultra HD recordings with 30 frames or FHD slow motion with 120 frames per second, but also the Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) video profile. This delivers spectacular HDR recordings, even in 4K.
Fast autofocus for the decisive moment
The autofocus now works with 693 phase focus areas and covers almost 93% of the entire sensor surface. In addition, Eye AF offers precise focusing on the model's pupil. The new Alpha 7 III is capable of capturing up to ten images per second at full resolution with continuous autofocus on the memory card. In total, the buffer is sufficient for up to 177 standard JPEG images, 89 compressed RAW images or 40 uncompressed RAW images. High-speed mode is possible either with a mechanical shutter or completely silent. Even in Live View mode, continuous shooting is possible at up to eight frames per second with minimal delay in the viewfinder or on the LCD.
Improvements in construction, design and customization options
In addition to a high-resolution OLED viewfinder, the Alpha 7 III naturally also features a sharp and foldable 3-inch touchscreen.
The operating concept is also a further development of the existing system. The camera has ten programmable direct buttons, a flat focus joystick and two control dials for adjusting the aperture and shutter speed.
The non-slip magnesium body is protected against dust and splash water.
If you compare the body of the Alpha 7 III with its predecessor model, you will notice that the new body is a little thicker. This is due to the use of the new, longer-lasting battery type (NP-FZ100), which is also used in the Alpha 7R III and Alpha 9. The battery can take up to 710 shots, whereas the Alpha 9 can only take 480 shots. In practice, it is probably possible to take significantly more shots.
Thanks to all these new features, the Sony Alpha 7 III proves to be a durable, powerful and lavishly equipped camera, which will captivate not only amateur photographers but also professionals.
The price of the camera is also extremely interesting. The body will cost around 2,300 euros, the kit combination with the 28-70 mm f/4 2,500 euros. The camera should be available from April.
Of course, you can pre-order the camera in our online store and soon in our D?sseldorf store to try it out.