Alpha 9 III

Released January 2024

A 24.6 MP full-frame mirrorless camera with a global shutter, 120 fps bursts and uncropped 4K 120p video.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 24.6
Lens: Sony E-mount
Video: 3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Body weight: 617 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised extraordinary burst speed, the global shutter and improved handling. Amateur Photographer found tracking exceptionally reliable but highlighted weaker dynamic range and high-ISO quality than conventional rivals. Digital Camera World was more enthusiastic about image quality yet reported occasional tracking failures in demanding sports with its pre-production sample. Both considered it a specialist professional sports tool.

From amateurphotographer.com and digitalcameraworld.com

Product links

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Stacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutter
Sensor dimensions: 35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution: 24.6 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 250–25600
Sensor detail: Approximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.
Image formats: JPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.
ISO detail: Standard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.
Image processor: BIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony E-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 120 fps
Autofocus: Up to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.
Burst detail: Up to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.

Video

Highest video resolution: 3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detail: Up to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3.2″
Screen dots: 2,095,104
Touchscreen: Yes
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Four-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.
Viewfinder detail: 0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 530 photographs
Body weight: 617 g
Release detail: Sony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.
Recording media: Both slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.
Ports: USB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery life detail: NP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.
Dimensions: Approximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.
Weight detail: Sony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.
In the box: NP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.

Pros and cons

Pros

Full-resolution RAW bursts up to 120 fps
Global shutter avoids rolling-shutter distortion
Tilting and side-opening rear screen

Cons

Standard ISO starts at 250
Highest burst rates require compatible lenses and settings

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
CanonEOS R1	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.2	Canon RF	6000 × 3164 at 59.94 fps	920 g	Nov 2024
CanonEOS R5 Mark II	Mirrorless	Full frame	45	Canon RF	8192 × 4320 at 59.94 fps	656 g	Aug 2024
NikonZ6III	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.5	Nikon Z mount	6048 × 3402 at 59.94 fps	670 g	Jun 2024

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony Alpha 9 III: Body from front with shading curtain closed: sony.jp/products/picture/original_ILCE-9M3_light_shielding.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Body from right side: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_rightside.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Body from rear: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_rear.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Body from left side with terminal covers closed: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_leftside.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Body from above: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_top.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Camera from front with optional FE 24mm F1.4 GM lens: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_with_SEL24F14GM.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Front three-quarter with optional FE 24–70mm F2.8 GM II lens: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_with_SEL2470GM2.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Camera from front with optional FE 24mm F1.4 GM lens and VG-C5 vertical grip: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_with_SEL24F14GM_VG-C5.jpg
Sony Alpha 9 III: Portrait orientation rear view with optional VG-C5 vertical grip: sony.jp/products/picture/ILCE-9M3_with_VG-C5_rear.jpg

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