Sony A7S III (Alpha 7S III) Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera (2020)

MSRP 3500 USD84% Neofiliac88% External
Keywords: bsicamerae-mountfull-framemirrorlesssonystabilized

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Product Overview

Sony A7S III wraps powerful video functionalities in a compact mirrorless camera package for pro-level hybrid shooters: Exceptionally fast image processor, high quality sensor, industry-first 9.44 million dot OLED EVF add to the high dynamic range and swift autofocus typical for Sony.

Processor

The A7S III features a newly developed BIONX XR image processing engine with eight (8x) times more processing power than the BIONZ X found in existing flagship cameras in Sony's E-mount lineup. Thanks to the large buffer and the new CFexpress Type A memory card, the camera is capable of shooting at up to 10fps for more than 1000 consecutive uncompressed RAW images with full AF / AE tracking

Sensor

The new 12.1MP BSI (back-side illuminated) Exmor R CMOS image sensor offers high readout speed, significantly reducing the "rolling shutter" effect. Native ISO is now 80, with expandable ISO range coming in at 40 to 409,600.

EVF & LCD

For the first time in the camera industry, a 0.64-in OLED EVF with 9.44 million dot is fitted. In response to popular demand, Sony has also fitted the A7S III with a flip-out LCD screen. The latter features completely redesigned menu system with enhance touch operability.

Video

The A7S III allows users to shoot 4K videos at 120p with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth internally. 4K 60p 16-bit RAW video is supported via HDMI output.

Ratings

What we found**

Neofiliac score 84% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Fully articulated LCD
  • Long battery life
  • 80 base ISO
  • 5.5 stops of IBIS
  • Good 10.0 fps burst rate
  • Rather compact
  • Weather-sealed
  • Supports CFExpress Type A card
  • Very high resolution EVF
  • Supports both WiFi and Bluetooth
Cons
  • Very low 12 MP resolution

What external reviewers found***

External score 88% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Fantastic image quality
  • Superb 4k video quality
  • Superb autofocus
  • Very good battery life
Cons
  • No 4K video support
  • Bulky design
  • No HDR support
  • S-Log 3 is only usable in 10-bit cine cameras
  • No articulating screen
  • No mirrorless mirror
Read More

Price Comparison

Specifications

Connectivity

Ports
HDMI + Headphone + Microphone + Remote Control + USB 3.2 Gen 1
Wireless Connectivity
802.11ac (dual band) + Bluetooth

Construction

Adjustment | Tilt
Open to 176 deg, Rotate 270 deg
Form Factor
Mirrorless camera
Image Size
Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm)
Lens Mount
Sony E-mount
Material
Magnesium alloy
Microphone
Stereo
Sensor | Resolution
12 MP (4240 x 2832)
Sensor | Type
BSI-CMOS
Speakers
Mono

Dimensions

Size | Depth
81 mm / 3.19 in
Size | Height
97 mm / 3.82 in
Size | Width
129 mm / 5.08 in
Weight
699 g / 24.70 oz

Display

Display Diagonal
3 inch
Display Type
Fully articulated TFT LCD
Resolution
1,440,000 dots
Viewfinder | Coverage
100%
Viewfinder | Magnification
0.91x
Viewfinder | Resolution
9,440,000 dots
Viewfinder | Type
Electronic

Function

AE Bracketing
±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
Autofocus
759 focus points
Crop Factor
1.0
Exposure Compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Exposure Mode
Auto / Aperture Priority / Shutter Priority / Manual
Flash Sync Speed
1/250 s
GPS
No
Image Stabilization
5-axis (5.5 stops)
ISO Range
80 ~ 102400 (expands to 40 ~ 409600)
Processor
Bionz XR
Touch Screen
Yes
Video Codecs
MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.264, H.265
Video Recording
Up to 4K 120p 10bit 4:2:2, up to FHD 240p
Weather Resistance
Yes

Performance

Battery Life
600 shots
Battery Life | Stills
510 shots (Viewfinder) / 600 shots (LCD)
Battery Life | Video
80 min (Viewfinder) / 95 min (LCD)
Dynamic Range
15 stops
Max Burst Rate
10.0 fps
Shutter Speed
1/8000 to 30 s
Storage
Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots

Production

Availability
2020-09
Battery
NP-FZ100 lithium-ion battery charger
Debut
2020-07-28
Model Name
ILCE-7SM3

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3rd-Party Review Videos

External Reviews

gizmodo[1]

Reviewer score 86%
Reviewers from gizmodo have found the following***:
In addition to RAW and JPG, the A7Siii can also shoot in the newer HEIF format, which you might think of as an HDR still photo. The only thing that's keeping me from running out and selling my organs to buy this $3,500 camera is that I have dreams of one day blowing up my nature photos and seeing them on a gallery wall.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Very good low-light video quality
  • Very good battery life
  • Lots of storage space
Cons
  • S-Log 3 is only usable in 10-bit cine cameras
  • No HDR support

cameralabs[2]

Reviewer score 90%
Reviewers from cameralabs have found the following***:
Sony’s dumped the half hour limit of some rivals and designed the internals to better dissipate heat without the need for active cooling. Sony claims the A7S III can record an hour of 4k uninterrupted, but I found it could do much better in most modes. In 4k 60p, I managed a single 107 minute clip before I filled my 128GB card, with 25% battery remaining and the camera happy to continue filming.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Superb 4k video quality
  • Superb autofocus
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Can’t record in 16:9 format

pcmag[3]

Reviewer score 87%
Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
The Sony a7S III is the only current-generation mirrorless camera with a relatively low pixel count sensor. Its 12MP BSI sensor offers cleaner high- ISO imaging and video than more typical 24MP cameras. The ability to record in 4K at up to 120fps can add slow motion to projects without having to drop back to HD resolution.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • 4K video at up to 120fps
  • Excellent image quality
  • Fast continuous drive
Cons
  • No 4K video support

techradar[4]

Reviewer score 90%
Reviewers from techradar have found the following***:
The Sony A7S III is a fantastic camera for video and stills. It has an ultra-fast, ultra-expensive memory card format, but it does support it nonetheless. There's support for the new HEIF photo format, H.265 video capture, and clean 16-bit raw output at 4K 60fps. With ISO settings ranging from ISO 2000-4000 it is a liberating camera to use.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Fantastic image quality
  • Excellent battery life
  • Fast charging
Cons
  • Bulky design
  • No articulating screen

trustedreviews[5]

Reviewer score 90%
Reviewers from trustedreviews have found the following***:
The Sony A7S III boasts a formidable list of video options. You can shoot movies in 3840 x 2160 or 1920 x 1080 resolutions (aka 4K and Full HD) It has built-in 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, and it works well for handheld shooting of both video and stills.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Superb image quality
  • Excellent autofocus
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • No mirrorless mirror

User Reviews

Comments

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References

  1. ^ The Sony A7Siii Is a Dreamy Video Monster. [gizmodo]. https://gizmodo.com/sony-a7siii-review-a-dreamy-video-monster-1845325064. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  2. ^ Sony A7S III review. [cameralabs]. https://www.cameralabs.com/sony-a7s-iii-review/. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  3. ^ Sony a7S III Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-a7s-iii. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  4. ^ Sony A7S III review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-a7s-iii. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  5. ^ Sony A7S III Review. [trustedreviews]. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-a7s-iii. Retrieved 2021-03-22.

The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.

This page contains affiliate links to third-party merchants such as Amazon, eBay, and Rakuten. When you make a purchase using the supplied links, we will receive a commission.

Scores are not directly comparable across industries.

These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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