Two years after launching Sony a7R II, the new upgrade has arrived. Sony has launched their a7R III, a pretty impressive full-frame mirrorless camera packed in a compact body. While it features lots of the same features as its predecessor, there are some improvements involved, such as two times faster continuous shooting. What stays unchanged is the price: it’s $3,200, like the a7R II when it was first announced.
The new Sony a7R III features a full-frame 42.4 MP back-illuminated sensor. So no, it doesn’t have an 80MP sensor. It has the same pixel count as its predecessor, but almost doubles the one of Sony a9.
One of the most prominent features of the new Sony’s camera is the improved speed. The Sony aR7 III features 10fps continuous shooting, which is two times faster than its predecessor. You can shoot this fast with either a mechanical shutter or a completely silent shooting. In live view mode, it allows you to shoot 8fps. It contains the updated Fast Hybrid AF System. It uses 399 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas, which allows better AF performance. According to the announcement, this allows auto-focus and subject tracking to be faster and more accurate.
The ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 100-32000, which is higher than the a7R II’s 25600. But, it can further be expanded to ISO 50-102400, which is the same as for the previous model.
When compared to the A7R II, video capabilities are slightly improved. You can record 4K UHD video with the full width of the full-frame sensor. In the Super 35mm format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning. It collects “5K of information, oversampling it to produce high-quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth.” The a7R III, like its predecessor, features the 5-axis image stabilization.
When it comes to other improvements, Sony has decided to add the second card slot to the line. So, the a7R II features dual SD card slots. It also employs a larger NP-FZ100 battery, which promises up to 530 shots per charge when using the viewfinder.
As for the screen, the a7R III features a 3″ rear tilting LCD touchscreen. Sony says it’s also been improved with has been improved with a resolution of 1.44M dots and better visibility in bright, outdoor conditions.
Take a look at the photos of the camera below, as well as more detailed specs:
Specs
| Imaging | |
| Lens Mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Camera Format | Full-Frame |
| Pixels | Actual: 43.6 Megapixel Effective: 42.4 Megapixel |
| Max Resolution | 7952 x 5304 |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Sensor Type / Size | CMOS, 35.9 x 24 mm |
| File Formats | Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, XAVC S Audio: AC3, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo) |
| Bit Depth | 14-Bit |
| Dust Reduction System | Yes |
| Memory Card Type | SD SDHC SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo |
| Image Stabilization | Sensor-Shift, 5-Way |
| AV Recording | |
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Video Format | 3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps (100 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps (60 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080p at 100, 120 fps (100 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080p at 100, 120 fps (60 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps (50 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080p at 50, 59.94 fps (25 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080p at 25, 29.97 fps (16 Mbps XAVC S via H.264) 1920 x 1080i at 50, 59.94 fps (24 Mbps AVCHD via H.264) 1920 x 1080i at 50, 59.94 fps (17 Mbps AVCHD via H.264) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Video Clip Length | Up to 29 Min |
| Audio Recording | Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo) Optional External Mic: With Video (Stereo) |
| Focus Control | |
| Focus Type | Auto & Manual |
| Focus Mode | Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S) |
| Autofocus Points | Phase Detection: 399 Contrast Detection: 425 |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder Size | 0.5″ |
| Viewfinder Pixel Count | 3,686,400 |
| Viewfinder Eye Point | 23.00 mm |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | Approx. 0.78x |
| Diopter Adjustment | -4.0 to +3.0 m |
| Display Screen | 3″ Rear Touchscreen Tilting LCD (1,440,000) |
| Screen Coverage | 100% |
| Exposure Control | |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 100-32000 (Extended Mode: 50-102400) |
| Shutter | 30 – 1/8000 Second , Bulb Mode 1/4 – 1/8000 Second in Movie Mode |
| Remote Control | RM-VPR1, VCT-XPR10, VCT-VPR1, RM-SPR1, RMT-VP1K (Optional) |
| Metering Method | Center-Weighted Average Metering, Multi-Zone Metering, Spot Metering, Highlight Weighted |
| Exposure Modes | Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Movie, Program, Shutter Priority Metering Range: EV -3.0 – EV 20.0 Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV Steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater |
| Buffer/Continuous Shooting | Up to 10 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in Raw Format Up to 8 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in Raw Format Up to 6 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in Raw Format Up to 3 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in Raw Format Up to 10 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in JPEG Format Up to 8 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in JPEG Format Up to 6 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in JPEG Format Up to 3 fps at 42.4 MP for up to 76 Frames in JPEG Format |
| Flash | |
| Flash Modes | Auto Fill-In Hi-Speed Sync Off Rear Sync Red-Eye Reduction Slow Sync Wireless |
| Built-in Flash | No |
| Max Sync Speed | 1 / 250 Second |
| Flash Compensation | -3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps) |
| Dedicated Flash System | TTL |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC Terminal |
| Performance | |
| Self Timer | 10 Seconds, 5 Seconds, 2 Seconds |
| Connectivity | 1/8″ Headphone, 1/8″ Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), Micro-USB, USB 3.0, USB Type-C |
| Wi-Fi Capable | Yes |
| Power | |
| Battery | 1 x NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh |
| Operating/Storage Temperature | Operating 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C) |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9″ / 126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7 mm |
| Weight | 1.45 lb / 657 g |
As I mentioned above, the Sony A7R III is available at the price of $3,200. The preorders begin on October 26, and the shipping is bound to begin in November 2017. Will you be upgrading?
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