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Sony Alpha 7S III · Photo source

Sony Alpha 7S III
Photo 1 of 22

Sony Alpha 7S III · Photo source

Sony · Alpha

Alpha 7S III

Released September 2020

A 12.1 MP full-frame E-mount camera for low-light video, with internal 10-bit 4K at 120p, hybrid autofocus and an articulating touchscreen.

Type
Mirrorless
Sensor
Full frame
Megapixels
12.1
Lens
Sony E-mount
Video
3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Body weight
614 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised dependable low-light video, fast autofocus, the detailed viewfinder and improved touch menus, while noting limited still-image resolution and expensive fast cards. Photography Blog found the grip comfortable; Amateur Photographer found it secure but less comfortable than rivals, and noted that the supplied cable guard obstructed the articulated screen.

From photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
Mirrorless
Sensor format
Full frame
Sensor type
Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Sensor dimensions
35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution
12.1 MP
Largest image
4240 × 2832
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
80–102400
Sensor detail
Approximately 12.9 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor; anti-static coating and ultrasonic dust reduction
Image formats
JPEG, 10-bit HEIF and compressed or uncompressed 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 4.0); XAVC S, XAVC S-I and XAVC HS movies
ISO detail
Standard still-image and movie ISO 80–102400; still-image extension ISO 40–409600; movie extension reaches ISO 409600
Image processor
BIONZ XR

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Sony E-mount
Stabilisation
Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst
10 fps
Lens detail
Interchangeable E-mount; full-frame FE lenses use the whole sensor; APS-C still-image crop available. ILCE-7SM3 is supplied without a lens.
Autofocus
Fast Hybrid AF with 759 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points in full-frame stills; detection range EV -6 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/2 lens; Real-time Tracking and human Eye AF in stills and video; animal Eye AF for stills
Shutter
Mechanical or silent electronic focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second with Sony flash; selectable electronic first curtain
Burst detail
Up to 10 fps Hi+ with AF/AE tracking, 8 fps Hi with live view, 6 fps Mid or 3 fps Lo; Sony claims over 1,000 uncompressed RAW images at 10 fps with a CFexpress Type A card
Stabilisation detail
Five-axis sensor-shift correction; maker claim 5.5 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw testing with the FE 50 mm f/1.4 ZA lens and long-exposure noise reduction off; Active movie mode adds electronic correction and narrows the view
Flash
No built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible external flash; flash unavailable with electronic shutter
Exposure controls
1200-zone evaluative metering; program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes; exposure compensation ±5 EV, or ±3 EV using the dedicated dial

Video

Highest video resolution
3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detail
Internal 3840 × 2160 up to 120p NTSC or 100p PAL with 10-bit 4:2:2 options; 120p crops the view by approximately 10%. XAVC S/HS reaches 280 Mbps at 120p; XAVC S-I All-Intra reaches 600 Mbps at 60p. S&Q supports Full HD 240 fps capture with 1420 × 804 sensor readout. HDMI can output 4264 × 2408 16-bit RAW at up to 60p to a compatible external recorder. S-Log2/S-Log3, HLG, timecode and gamma display assist; current Sony specifications include S-Cinetone.
Audio
Built-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe; compatible accessories support four-channel 24-bit LPCM

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Electronic
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
1,440,000
Touchscreen
Yes
Tilting screen
Yes
Display detail
Side-opening vari-angle LCD; opens approximately 176° and rotates approximately 270°; touch menus and focus selection
Viewfinder detail
0.64-type Quad-XGA OLED; 9,437,184 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; 60 or 120 fps refresh

Connections and design

Wi-Fi
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)
600 photographs
Body weight
614 g
Release detail
Sony USA specifies September 2020 retail availability. This is ILCE-7SM3 with current maker-supported specification features.
Recording media
Two combined CFexpress Type A/SD slots, each supporting UHS-I and UHS-II SDHC/SDXC; simultaneous, relay or separate-format recording
Ports
Full-size HDMI Type A, USB-C (USB 3.2 at 5 Gbps), Multi/Micro USB, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe and vertical-grip connector
Wireless connections
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4 and 5 GHz; Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; FTP transfer and smartphone remote control; 5 GHz availability varies by region
Battery life detail
NP-FZ100; CIPA maker claim approximately 600 photographs using LCD or 510 using viewfinder; actual movie claim approximately 95 minutes with LCD or 80 with viewfinder
Charging
USB-C in-camera charging and power supply with USB Power Delivery support
Dimensions
Approximately 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8 mm; depth from grip to monitor 69.7 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 614 g body only; 699 g with battery and memory card; both exclude lens
Materials
Magnesium-alloy body; maker describes dust and moisture resistance without guaranteeing complete protection
In the box
Sony Japan lists NP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger and mains cable, cable protector, strap, body/shoe caps, eyepiece cup and USB-A to USB-C cable

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Internal 10-bit 4:2:2 4K recording
  • Phase-detection autofocus with subject tracking
  • Two slots for SD or CFexpress Type A cards

Cons

  • 12.1 MP still-image resolution
  • Some high-speed modes require CFexpress Type A cards

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
CanonEOS R5
MirrorlessFull frame45Canon RF8192 × 4320 at 29.97 fps650 gJul 2020
NikonZ 5
MirrorlessFull frame24.3Nikon Z mount3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps590 gAug 2020
NikonZ 6II
MirrorlessFull frame24.5Nikon Z mount3840 × 2160 at 59.94 fps615 gNov 2020

Sources

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  3. photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_a7s_iii_review
  4. amateurphotographer.com/review/sony-alpha-7s-iii-review
  5. sony.jp/ichigan/products/ILCE-7SM3
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Photo: sony.jp

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