With the revolutionary a9 III, Sony cements itself at the pinnacle of imaging technology. This powerhouse mirrorless camera attains speed and performance heights unmatched by any full-frame model to date. Equipped with an innovative 24.6MP stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory and global shutter, the a9 III empowers professionals to capture fast action and fleeting moments with unparalleled fidelity.
Never before has a full-frame interchangeable lens camera achieved up to 120 fps continuous shooting completely free of blackout and distortion. The global shutter unlocks game-changing capabilities like 1/80,000 sec flash sync and banding-free imaging under flickering light. This is a breakthrough for fields like sports, news, and wildlife photography.
Another great leap comes in the form of enhanced subject tracking powered by upgraded AI and 759 phase-detect AF points covering nearly the entire frame. From erratic birds to distant athletes, the a9 III locks focus and exposure onto subjects with tenacious reliability even mid-burst at 20 fps.
With advanced 5-axis stabilization, sophisticated workflow features, and rugged reliable construction, Sony pulls out all the stops to create the most capable mirrorless camera today. For professionals who demand the very best speed, precision and quality, the a9 III represents the new gold standard.
Table of Contents
Sony a9 III Review
Sony a9 III ReviewKey Takeaways:
- Revolutionary global shutter enables blackout-free 120 fps bursts and 1/80,000 flash sync
- Phase detect AF covers 95.6% of the image area with improved subject tracking
- 8K-derived 4K 120p video and S-Cinetone profiles for stunning footage
- 5-axis IBIS provides up to 8 stops of shake compensation handheld
- Ergonomic design includes a redesigned grip, stacked drive/focus mode dials
Features and Specs:
- 24.6MP global shutter Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor
- BIONZ XR processor, 8x power of previous gen
- 120 fps continuous shooting, up to 192 raws in a burst
- 759 phase-detection AF points, covering 95.6% image area
- Enhanced subject recognition and Eye AF capabilities
- 5-axis IBIS rated at 8 stops of shake compensation
- 10-bit 4:2:2 4K 120p video, S-Cinetone profiles
- Improved body design and controls, redesigned grip
- Dual UHS-II SD and CFexpress Type A card slots
Design and Build
Continuing the robust DNA of the Alpha series, the a9 III features a durable magnesium alloy body that can withstand heavy professional use. The weather sealing has been upgraded after exhaustive testing, making the body dust and moisture-resistant even in challenging environments.
Major enhancements come in the form of a redesigned deeper grip that better fits larger hands. An improved shutter button angle and position under the index finger make it easier to access the trigger. The AF-ON button is also repositioned for more natural access during shooting.
On the top plate, independent drive and focus mode dials allow quick access to settings and are lockable to prevent accidental changes. Five customizable buttons, including one newly added to the front, provide extensive customizability to suit different shooting styles.
The rear 3.2” LCD touchscreen features a 4-axis tilting design that allows flexible waist-level, overhead, or forward-facing framing. With 2.1 million dots resolution and WhiteMagic technology for outdoor visibility, it provides a crisp and vivid composition and playback view.
One of the a9 III’s highlights is its 9.44 million-dot OLED Quad-VGA electronic viewfinder. With 0.9x magnification, it offers an extremely smooth and lag-free viewing experience. You can truly track fast action continuously even at 120 fps thanks to the blackout-free global shutter design.
Dual UHS-II SD card slots permit overflow, backup and separating file types. The CFexpress Type A slot allows blistering write speeds up to 800 MB/s for high-capacity bursts. The battery can be charged via USB-C and an optional vertical grip houses two batteries for extended shoots.
Overall, the a9 III exudes professional-grade refinement both inside and out. It’s built to withstand heavy use while providing an ergonomic and customizable shooting experience.
Performance and Use
Simply put, the performance of the a9 III is game-changing. Thanks to the global shutter, blackout-free continuous shooting up to 120 fps looks and feels incredible. You can follow all the action through the EVF/LCD without interruption, precisely timing your shots.
The intelligent subject tracking AF system leverages the upgraded real-time recognition AI for tenacious focus lock even on tricky subjects like erratic birds. The coverage across nearly the entire frame makes off-centre compositions a breeze.
Responsiveness is simply stunning. With a high-speed CFexpress Type A card, the buffer clears almost instantly even after long 240+ raw bursts at 20 fps. The fast sensor readout contributes to highly reliable subject tracking in bursts.
The touchscreen interface provides quick AF point selection and menu navigation. Customizable buttons and dials greatly aid practical use, allowing you to tailor functions to your shooting style. The perfectly positioned joystick makes AF point selection a joy.
Innovative features like Pre-Capture ensure you can time the peak action perfectly, while the Speed Boost button gives an instant fps surge just when you need it. And unlike any other full-frame camera, 1/80,000 flash sync expands creative lighting possibilities.
Whether photographing a rapidly approaching athlete, capturing a perfect facial expression mid-laugh, or freezing a bullet piercing a target, the a9 III delivers superlative performance that expands creative boundaries. It’s a game changer for fields like sports and wildlife photography.
Image and Video Quality
With its new 24.6MP Exmor RS imaging sensor and BIONZ XR processor, the a9 III delivers stunning image quality with immense detail, dynamic range and flexibility.
The enhanced processing power preserves detail and reduces noise remarkably well even at high ISOs. Shots at ISO 12,800 still look very clean, with noise only becoming more apparent at the top expanded settings.
Dynamic range is also impressive, with highlights retained nicely to allow pulling back overexposed regions. The global shutter eliminates banding under flickering light for clean images in these scenarios.
JPEGs straight out of the camera show pleasing colours and white balance performance. But where the a9 III truly shines is RAW image quality. Files hold amazing room for post-processing, allowing incredible exposure and colour adjustments.
On the video front, oversampled 4K 120p footage is incredibly sharp with no crop, taking full advantage of wide lens fields of view. Cinematic S-Cinetone profiles offer a dynamic range for flexible grading.
Five-axis stabilization produces gimbal-like smoothness free of jitter and shake. Tracking focus in video mode is highly reliable thanks to the hybrid AF system and fast sensor readout, with seamless focus transitions.
Whether shooting high-speed action stops or cinematic wildlife sequences, the a9 III provides immense creative freedom to extract the best possible stills and video.
Comparisons with the a9 II
The a9 III brings significant advancements across the board compared to its predecessor. At the foundation lies the revolutionary global shutter capable of blackout-free 120 fps bursts with no distortion along with 1/80,000 flash sync—all Sony firsts for full frame.
The focusing system has been enhanced with greater coverage at 759 phase-detect points, spanning nearly the entire frame. The upgraded subject recognition AI now identifies more animals, birds, vehicles, and humans reliably.
With dual UHS-II SD and CFexpress Type A slots, the a9 III supports higher-capacity cards for extended bursts. It also provides flexible overflow, backup, and file separation functions.
For video, oversampled 4K 120p with no crop exceeds the previous 4K 30p capabilities, fully leveraging wide lens angles. Cinematic S-Cinetone profiles produce ready-to-grade footage with rich colours and enhanced DR.
The redesigned body improves ergonomics with a deeper grip, better button access, and stacked drive/focus dials. Weather sealing has been strengthened after exhaustive testing for rugged reliability.
Power has been boosted with an upgraded battery providing approx. 400 shots per charge. And flash sync all the way up to 1/80,000 sec is a game changer for creative lighting options.
While already impressive, the a9 II now looks rather conventional next to the trailblazing a9 III. Sony has delivered a new milestone in mirrorless technology and performance.
Pros:
- Revolutionary global shutter enables new possibilities
- Blackout-free 120 fps bursts, pre-capture buffer
- Phase detect AF covers nearly the whole image frame
- Leading-class image stabilization up to 8 stops
- Cinematic 4K 120p video, impressive dynamic range
Cons:
- Very high price, only for professionals
- No built-in flash (typical for this class)
- CFexpress cards are still expensive
- Battery life lags DSLRs (but better than a9 II)
Verdict
With breakthrough capabilities like a 120fps global shutter and intelligent subject tracking, the pioneering Sony a9 III represents a giant technological leap in mirrorless cameras that establishes a new gold standard for speed, performance and image fidelity.
FAQ
What memory cards work best?
For maximum performance, Sony CFexpress Type A cards are ideal, but fast UHS-II SD cards also work well.
How good is autofocus for video?
The hybrid AF system offers tenacious subject tracking and smooth focus transitions when shooting video.
Is the camera fully weather-sealed?
Yes, the magnesium body has been redesigned for improved dust and moisture resistance.
