Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 25, 2017. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Long awaited and a popular dish in the rumour mill: Sony has now unveiled the new full-frame camera in the Alpha 7 series. We summarise all the important information about the newly announced Sony A7R III here. Anyone considering buying the predecessor model when it is released can find our detailed test of the A7R II from DP issue 02 : 2016 further down.
New Features of the A7R III
Body & Battery
The body has increased in depth by 1.3 cm and now has a dual SD slot with support for UHS-II, a new touchscreen and a USB-C port. The A7R III also has a small joystick and an AF-on button. The battery now also allows up to 530 shots (via the viewfinder)—compared with 290 shots on the predecessor.
Image and Video Quality
The number of megapixels remains at 42.4 MP, as with the A7R II with the same sensor. The new Pixel Shift mode now allows you to create images with a total of 169.6 megapixels. With faster image processing using an improved BIONZ X image processor, Sony promises less image noise and better image quality. Support for S-Log3, which was not available in the predecessor model, is also new. Films can now also be recorded with 5K oversampling. For the hot topic of HDR, Sony also offers the new HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) picture profile for the A7R III.
Focus & Speed
Sony has supplemented the 399 phase-detection points in the autofocus with a further 425 contrast points and adopted AF tracking from the α9. With the increased speed, silent shooting at up to 10 frames per second with AF/AE tracking is possible.
Other Features
In addition to the innovations mentioned, the existing image stabilisation receives minor improvements. Sony has also increased compatibility with external flash units. You can find the complete technical data sheet here.
Price & Release
According to Sony, the price at release from the end of November this year will be €3,500. You can find more information here.
Sony A7R II: The Predecessor in a Detailed Test
Anyone considering waiting for the new model to be released in order to buy the predecessor, the Sony A7R II, can download our extensive test from DP 02 : 2016. In addition to image and video quality, we tested the camera’s lenses, image stabilisation, sensor and ergonomics. Go to the free article here.
