Welcome to my Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) guides & resources page. Here you will find the latest firmware version for the a7S III, user guides, FAQs, product images and helpful guides.
| Latest Firmware | Manual | Accessories | Check Price & Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version 1.02 | PDF / Online | Accessories | Amazon | B&H |
Sony a7S III Forum & Facebook Group
If you are looking for further help and advice on the a7S III or would simply like to share your photos and videos, then please head over to our friendly Sony a7S Forum. If you prefer Facebook then I also run the Sony a7S III Shooters Group and the Sony Alpha Video Shooters Group.
Sony a7S III Guides
Sony a7S III Overview
The Sony a7S III was announced on July 28th, 2020 and a good five years after its predecessor the Sony a7S II, this was an exceptionally long gap for Sony between releases, was the wait worth it? Yes!
Here’s Sony’s product announcement video for the a7S III:
Although both the a7S II and a7S III feature a 12MP full-frame sensor, the a7S III gets a new back-illuminated Exmor RTM CMOS image sensor that features major innovations in light-gathering, wiring and output optimization, along with a 3x reduced roller shutter affect over the a7S II according to Sony.
The a7S III improves on 4K recording by increasing the frame rate to a maximum of 120fps. When shooting up to 60p it uses the entire width of the sensor, when using faster frame rates there is a small 1.1x crop.
And if you are happy shooting in 1080p then the new a7S III can record up to 240fps, this is double the 120fps of the a7S II.
Here’s a sample 4k video shot on the a7S III using S-Log3/S-Gamut3.Cine and color graded:
The old a7S II only supported contrast detection with 169 points, the a7S III improves on this with the much faster hybrid AF system that features 759 phase-detection AF points (covering around 93% of the imaging area) in conjunction with 425-point contrast-detection AF.
The a7S III also gets Real-time Eye AF (for humans and animals) as well as Real-time Tracking, Eye AF is also now available when shooting movies.
Please visit my Sony a7S II vs Sony a7S III comparison for a complete breakdown of the differences between these two cameras.
DPReview awarded this camera their Gold Award and concluded their in-depth review with the following:
The Sony a7S III is a powerful video tool that can shoot 4K footage at up to 120p (up to 60p with no crop), in a variety of 10-bit formats to provide plenty of flexibility in terms of both grading and workflow. It has dependable autofocus, in-body stabilization and good battery life to boost its run-and-gun credentials. Its 12MP resolution means it’s less impressive as a stills camera but it’s a hugely powerful choice for independent video producers.
DPReview
The a7S III has been Sony’s most anticipated camera for quite some time, and luckily Sony has not disappointed us at all.
If you are looking for a hybrid camera but your main focus is video, then the a7S III is most definitely worth taking a closer look at.
Sony a7S III Key Specs
- 12.1-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor RTM CMOS image sensor
- Bionz XR processor
- 759 focal plane phase-detection sensors and 425 contrast-detection points
- ISO 80-102400 (expandable to 40-409600)
- 9.44M-dot EVF with 0.91x magnification
- 4K video at up to 120p, 60p
- 16-bit Raw video output at up to 60p
- 10-bit 4:2:2 internal capture (in codecs including H.265 and All-I H.264)
- Fully articulating LCD
- 5-axis in-body stabilization with SteadyShot active mode
- Twin card slots that each accept either SD or CFexpress Type A
- 699g / 24.66oz with battery and memory card
You can find the full Sony a7S III details and specifications over on Sony’s product page.
Sony a7S III FAQs
The Sony a7S III was announced on July 28th, 2020 and first shipments started in September 2020.
Both memory card slots support SD (UHS-I/II compliant) memory cards and also CFexpress Type A card memory cards. You might also find my Sony a7S III Memory Card Guide helpful.
The Sony NP-FZ100 battery.
Yes. The Sony a7S III is a full-frame 35-mm camera.
Sony claim that the a7S III is dust and moisture resistant, they don’t claim that it is fully waterproof and you should therefore use a rain cover if using the camera in wet weather.
The Sony a7S III has a 12.1 megapixel sensor.
The a7S Mark III can record 4K up to 60 with the full width of the sensor, and 4K/120p with a small 1.1x crop.
699g / 24.66oz with battery and memory card
The Sony a7S III box only includes: rechargeable battery NP-FZ100, battery charger BC-QZ1, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup, USB-A to USB-C cable (USB 3.2).
The maximum fps (frames per second) for the mechanical shutter of the a7S III is 10 fps.
There is no recording limit. You can record until your battery is exhausted or your memory cards are full.
16-bit RAW video (up to 60p) is only supported externally when coupled with an external recorder like the Atomos Ninja V.
Sony a7S III Product Images
