The wait is over: After many months of rumors, speculation, and leaks, Sony has officially unveiled the Sony a7S III. The video-focused full-frame camera still uses a 12MP sensor, but can capture 4K at up to 120p, features a thicker body design with hybrid card slots, and features a completely new menu system.
The camera was announced during a live presentation and an ongoing question-and-answer session, and there’s a lot to unpack here. Because while it doesn’t have the innovative 8K capability of the Canon EOS R5, Sony has brought a lot of power into its latest creation.
In essence, the new Sony a7S III features a 12MP BSI CMOS sensor with ultra-fast read speeds and a native ISO range of 80-102400. This sensor, along with a new BIONZ XR processor, can capture 4K: 120p and 4K / 60p video at 10-bit 4: 2: 2 without pixel grouping or line-skipping, and 16-bit ProRes RAW video over HDMI up to 4K / 60p.
There’s also a redesigned autofocus system with 759 phase-detection AF points that cover 92% of the image sensor, and the camera features a maximum continuous shooting speed of 10 fps for “more than 1,000 uncompressed RAW images consecutive with full AF / AE tracking. “
In terms of construction, the camera features a thicker design to dissipate heat and accommodate IBIS, as well as some interesting design options as well. These include the “world’s brightest” 9.44 million dot EVF OLED, a full-size HDMI port, a fully articulated drop-down screen, and two hybrid card slots that can take UHS-II SD cards. or the CFExpress Type A, smaller but faster, which makes it the first consumer camera to use the latter format.
However, the new design not only gives you more options, Sony couldn’t resist taking a Canon photo noting that the “new camera body heat dissipation mechanism and dual-slot relay recording allows more than one hour long 4K 60p 10-bit 4: 2: 2 movie shooting. ” In other words: no overheating, no fan needed.
Finally, Sony finally heard all the grip online and introduced a new menu system with touchscreen functionality on the Sony a7S III.
You can see the menus below:
And here is a closer look at the camera from all angles:
Sony is understandably quite excited about this camera.
“The Alpha 7S III is the ultimate representation of Sony’s passion for solving our customers’ weaknesses,” said Neal Manowitz, vice president of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony. “We are always listening to the comments of our clients, striving to offer an innovation that goes beyond their expectations. There is no better example than this new camera. ”
Here’s a 6-minute video from Sony introducing the new camera:
Here’s a 10-minute hands-on video from Adorama that gives a good look at the camera and what it can do:
And if you want to get a better idea of what this camera is capable of doing for filmmakers, here are some 4K sample reels that Sony has released alongside the announcement, followed by a BTS:
The Sony a7S III is available for pre-order today at the very aggressive price of $ 3,500, with shipping scheduled for “September 2020.” You can order yours here.
