Sony has long become a benchmark for mirrorless cameras, making a name for itself through serious, powerful, and high-quality creations. Will the Sony A 7 iii be one of your many successes in the world of mirrorless cameras?
Without a doubt, I already anticipate that the Sony Alpha 7 iii is a camera to delve into full-sensor Sony mirrorless cameras with guarantees. This impressive camera is designed to make you one of Sony's flagships for the advanced photographer.
In the next few lines I am going to reveal what makes this camera a benchmark in Full Frame mirrorless cameras.
WHO IS THE SONY A7 III FOR?
The Sony Alpha 7 iii is a camera for an advanced photographer looking for a mirrorless Full Frame with excellent image quality, ultra-fast focusing, robust and powerful. Although Sony does not advertise it as a professional camera, it is clear that from some of its characteristics, it could well be one.
Now, the more we raise the bar in terms of cameras, we must also take into account that investment in optics must increase. You have to add one that is up to this camera to be able to make the most of it, taking into account that we are talking about a full-frame camera.
You can open your mouth with this presentation video.
FEATURES OF THE SONY ALPHA 7 III
The characteristics of the Sony Alpha 7 iii place it in an advanced range, many are the details that are responsible for doing so. Let's see it in depth:
DESIGN
This mirrorless is designed in a magnesium alloy body that stands out for its good grip and the accessibility of its main functions through the buttons located both on the top and on the back.
It is sealed against dust and moisture, and has an improved mount to support heavier lenses. The accessibility of some buttons such as the AF-ON to activate the autofocus has also been improved.
It has no less than 81 functions that can be associated with 11 keys that you can customize. So you can make this machine practically an extension of your brain. Although doing so will require prior learning due to the number of options that it allows you to configure.
On the back it has a small joystick -type button to control the focus points quickly and easily.
In addition, it has a touch screen that tilts up and down (but not to the sides), and a viewfinder with a quality not seen before, in terms of contrast, resolution and color reproduction.
It also highlights its double memory card slot, one compatible with UHS-II for fast data writing.
PERFORMANCE
Of the Sony A7 iii, the focus system stands out above all, which is really impressive, even surpassing superior models of the same brand, such as the A9 itself. It is ideal for covering events, for example, since the autofocus is very quiet and also has a very high level of performance.
The autofocus covers 693 focus points, covering 93% of the image area. Providing a burst speed of up to 10 fps (8 fps in Live View mode), a camera is therefore impressively fast and effective in focusing. This model adds the Eye AF mode, which is capable of following the movement of the eyes to achieve portraits that are always in focus.
It also has a new improved back-illuminated full frame CMOS sensor (which gives it greater reading speed and sensitivity) and 24 MP which, combined with the image processor, performs extremely well at high sensitivities and allows up to 15 stops in the Dynamic range.
It includes a 5-axis stabilizer in the body, which allows you to compensate up to 5 steps. So, along with the sensor's performance at high ISOS, this camera is perfectly responsive in low-light situations.
Battery life has also been improved, which is usually one of the weak points of some mirrorless models. In this case, it is around 600-700 shots depending on whether you use the viewfinder or the screen.
As for video, it stands out the high resolution 4K recording, excellent color reproduction, dynamic range (up to 14 steps), or 60x fast motion and 5x slow motion recording.
You can see some shots recorded with the A7 iii in the following video.
Finally, also highlight its connectivity by WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC.
SONY A7 III SPECIFICATIONS
This isn't an entry-level camera, as you'll see its specs show.
| Mount | Sony E-mount lenses |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame 35mm Exmor R CMOS sensor with back-illuminated design |
| image processor | Bionz X |
| Focus | By phase detection of 693 points and with contrast detection of 425 points |
| noise reduction | |
| ISO sensitivity | 100-51200 (expandable to ISO 50-204800 for photos) |
| frames per second | Up to 10 fps (8 in live view mode) |
| Focus | Hybrid with 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection AF points |
| integrated stabilizer | Yes, 5 axis |
| Viewfinder | 1.3 cm electronic viewfinder (0.5 type, color), XGA OLED |
| LCD screen | 7.5 cm (type 3.0) TFT flip-up touchscreen |
| Battery | 610 shots approx. (viewfinder)/ approx. 710 shots (LCD monitor) |
| card slot | 2 |
| connectivity | USB 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC |
| Video | XAVC S 4K@3840 x 2160 30p, 100M |
| Price | €1,856.80 |
WHAT MOUNT DOES THE SONY A7 III HAVE?
The Sony A7 iii has an E-mount, which is used by Sony's mirrorless cameras in both APS-C and Full Frame formats. You have a lot of lenses of different ranges.
MAIN COMPETITORS OF THE SONY ALPHA 7 III
Before launching into a camera, it's okay to look at a couple or three cameras of different makes and models. Without becoming obsessed, because otherwise you'll never finish making up your mind ? . The ideal is to look for its main competitors and analyze above all the previous model.
For the Sony Alpha 7 iii, we'll take a look at the previous model, comparing it to the A7 ii, with a "higher" model the A7R iii and the Canon EOS R6.
SONY A7 III VERSUS A7 II
Many times we tell you not to get carried away a priori by the novelty and to always take a look at the previous model that interests you. The improvements do not always justify the price increase of the new model or, if they do, they may be imperceptible to you and it is not worth spending what the new model is worth.
Think that at these camera levels, you will need a good lens to take advantage of them, so it can be a good way to invest those extra euros that you are not going to spend ?
| Model | sony a7 ii | sony a7iii |
| Body |  |
 |
| compatible lenses | Sony E-mount lenses | Sony E-mount lenses |
| Kind | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses |
| Sensor | 35.6x23.8mm full-frame Exmor R CMOS | 35.8 x 23.9mm full frame Exmor CMOS |
| megapixels | 24.3MP | 24.2MP |
| image processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| Viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder type 0.5″ 2,359,296 points and a magnification of Approx. 0.71x |
1.3 cm electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 points and a magnification of Approx. 0.78x |
| Screen | 3″ TFT LCD with 1,228,800 folding dots (non-touch) | 3″ 921,600 touch and flip points |
| AF points | 117 with phase detection | 693 with phase detection |
| maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| frames per second | 5fps | 10fps |
| integrated stabilizer | Yes, 5-axis (up to 4.5 stops) | Yes, 5 axis |
| card slot | one | 2 |
| video resolution | Full HD 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) | 4K 3840 x 2160 videos (25/30 fps) |
| ISO | 50–25,600 | 100-51,200 |
| battery life | 350 shots | 610 shots |
| Dimensions (W,H,D) | 127X96x60mm | 127 x 96 x 74mm |
| Weight | 599g | 650g |
| body only price | Approx €1,100 | €1,856.80 |
There is, today, almost €900 difference between one camera and another and the advantages of one over the other are several. Basically, the focus is on the number of focus points, the touch screen, the double card slot, the battery, the ISO sensitivity and the number of photos per second, where the A7 iii is clearly superior.
If you need a camera that is ultra-fast in focusing and has extreme ISO sensitivity, you may want to go for the Sony A7 iii. If not, you have €900 more to get a good lens, which mounted on any of these two impressive cameras will give you spectacular results.
SONY A7 III VERSUS SONY A7R III
| Model | sony a7r iii | sony a7iii |
| Body |  |
|
| compatible lenses | Sony E-mount lenses | Sony E-mount lenses |
| Kind | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses |
| Sensor | 35.9 x 24mm full-frame Exmor R CMOS | 35.8 x 24mm Full Frame Exmor CMOS |
| megapixels | 42.4MP | 24.2MP |
| image processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| Viewfinder | 1.3 cm electronic viewfinder with 3,686,400 dots and a magnification of Approx. 0.78x | 1.3 cm electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 points and a magnification of Approx. 0.78x |
| Screen | 3″ 1,440,000 flip-up touch points | 3″ 921,600 touch and flip points |
| AF points | 399 with phase detection | 693 with phase detection |
| maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| frames per second | 10fps | 10fps |
| integrated stabilizer | Yes, 5 axis | Yes, 5 axis |
| card slot | 2 | 2 |
| video resolution | 4K 3840 x 2160 videos | 4K 3840 x 2160 videos |
| ISO | 100-32,000 | 100-51,200 |
| battery life | 530 shots | 610 shots |
| Dimensions (W,H,D) | 127 x 96 x 74mm | 127 x 96 x 74mm |
| Weight | 657g | 650g |
| body only price | €2,800 approx. |
€1,856.80 |
The Sony A7R iii and the Sony A7 iii are very similar in most of their specifications. Where they differ the most is in the resolution of the sensor; from 24.2Mp in the A7 iii to 42.4 in the A7R iii and in focus points (where the A7 iii almost doubles the R) or in ISO. If those differences make up for the price, only you can decide ? .
SONY A7 III VS. CANON R6
| Model | canon eos r6 | sony a7iii |
| Body |  |
|
| compatible lenses | Canon RF mount lenses | Sony E-mount lenses |
| Kind | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses | Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses |
| Sensor | 35.9 x 23.9mm Full Frame CMOS | 35.8 x 23.9mm full frame Exmor CMOS |
| megapixels | 20.1MP | 24.2MP |
| image processor | DIGIC-X | BIONZ X |
| Viewfinder | 0.5-inch 3.69 million-dot color OLED electronic viewfinder with a magnification of Approx. 0.76x | 1.3 cm electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 points and a magnification of Approx. 0.78x |
| Screen | 3″, 1.62 million touch points fully articulated | 3″, 921,600 touch and flip points |
| AF points | 1053 in AF mode | 693 with phase detection |
| maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| frames per second | 12fps | 10fps |
| integrated stabilizer | Yes, up to 8 steps | Yes, 5 axis, up to 5 steps |
| card slot | 2 | 2 |
| video resolution | 4K 3840 x 2160 videos | 4K 3840 x 2160 videos (25/30 fps) |
| ISO | 100-102,400 | 100-51,200 |
| battery life | 510 shots | 610 shots |
| Dimensions (W,H,D) | 138×97×88mm | 127 x 96 x 74mm |
| Weight | 680g | 650g |
| body only price | €2,199.00 | €1,856.80 |
Between these two cameras, the price difference stands out. Almost €500 separate them and the differences are few. The most obvious is the difference in the screens, while the R6 is fully articulated, the A7 iii is only flip up and down.
There are also differences in the ISO value and in the stabilization system of the R6, which wins out over the A7 iii, but for example, it may seem somewhat fair in terms of MP, especially considering that we are talking about a 2,500 camera. € just the body.
For other comparisons or if you need to go deeper into any of the above, remember that we have our tool to compare all digital camera models. Just add the two models you want to compare, and this tool will show you all the specifications of both cameras. Access our tool just by clicking on this link.
MAIN ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE SONY A7 III
We have already seen throughout the article the characteristics of this full format mirrorless, but I will briefly summarize them in the following table, with its main advantages and possible disadvantages.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
 Impressive image quality |
 Flip screen only vertically |
| 4K recording |
Touch screen with few options |
| Fast and precise focus |
complex configuration |
| 5 axis stabilizer |
No standard battery charger |
| high quality viewer |
SECOND HAND SONY A7 III
Getting a camera like this is not always within the reach of all pockets. The good is usually at odds with the cheap in the world of technology (with some exceptions), so if at approx. €2,000 that the body of this camera costs today, you have to add a good objective, we are talking about a "basic" equipment of more than €3,000.
That is why the second-hand world can be an attractive option. A second-hand Sony A7 iii can be interesting, although you may have to wait a while to find an offer, I don't think there has been time for someone to want to get rid of one of the best mirrorless on the market, although you never know .
Don't miss our comprehensive article with tips for buying a second-hand camera so you don't get caught in a poke.
RENTAL OF A SONY A7 III
Faced with such a disbursement, you may want to try it before. Some photography stores or specialized companies rent their equipment by the day. You can find them for around €60 a day (body only) and around €20 a day for the lens.
About €80, it is possible that you can find this Sony for rent, in case you want to try it before taking the big leap . You have online stores but also physical ones. Search the networks and approach one that is close to you if you prefer.
Finally, if in the end you decide to buy the Sony A7 iii at the best price, I recommend that you dive into its own website, on Amazon(it is where we usually always find the best offers), or on other trusted websites and compare prices.
