Laying claim to the title of world's first global shutter mirrorless camera, the Sony a9 III is a speedy and incredibly capable system for sports, wildlife, photojournalism, and much, much more. This revolutionary sensor technology raises the bar for full-frame imaging, including the ability to shoot raw continuously at up to 120 fps and enjoy flash sync up to the maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 second. Blending the functionality of this 24.6MP sensor with Sony's powerful BIONZ XR processor and AI Processing Unit results in a system that will provide unmatched performance for those looking for an incredibly responsive and reliable camera system.
Sony a9 III: Unrivaled Speed, Zero Distortion and More!
Sony a9 III Live Panel Discussion
Global Shutter—A First for Mirrorless
Sony has delivered the world's first full-frame global shutter mirrorless camera with the a9 III. The use of a global shutter provides a leap in performance over the rolling shutter technology used for decades. A global shutter provides a near instantaneous and simultaneous readout of all 24.6MP, eliminating skew and other artifacts that plagued rolling shutters. It also far surpasses mechanical shutter technology is every way, making the physical shutter unnecessary in the a9 III.
Global shutters help ensure consistent and uniform exposure across the entire frame in all lighting conditions. Flash sync is possible at any shutter speed-even the maximum of 1/80,000 second. The simultaneous readout also prevents banding from certain light sources, such as fluorescent lighting. In a gym, outside, or with mixed artificial lighting the a9 III will handle it with ease.
Flash photography and mixed lighting conditions will see major usability enhancements with the use of a global shutter. This includes the ability to sync at up to 1/80,000 second with any flash. Sony flashes will benefit from communication that ensures optimal results and third-party flashes can be synced with the shutter by using a menu setting to adjust the delay.
Pre-Capture & Speed Boost—Never Miss a Moment
Along with the key technology delivered by the sensor, the a9 III offers features new features to unlock the camera's full potential.
Pre-Capture: The a9 III can be configured to begin recording images to the buffer when the shutter button is half-pressed. Users can set this between 0.05-1.0 second. Upon pressing the shutter these images will be saved to the memory card.
Speed Boost: Not every shoot calls for the a9 III's impressive max speed of 120 fps. With Speed Boost and the C5 button, which is conveniently placed near the grip on the front of the camera, users can instantly switch their camera from their usual continuous shooting frame rate to a faster one to make sure their next shot is just right. Photographers will be able to select various frame rates up to 120 fps.
Pro-Quality 4K Video
While video benefits greatly from the use of global shutter technology-rolling shutter and banding artifacts are completely eliminated-the a9 III boasts plenty of other video improvements over its predecessor worth talking about.
The a9 III captures and downsamples the full 6K image area to produce high-quality UHD 4K video up to 60 fps. It can also record 4K up to 120 fps with no crop.
Record 10-bit 4:2:2 internally using All-I encoding for maximum quality.
Output 16-bit raw via the full-size HDMI port to a compatible external recorder.
S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and other Picture Profiles are available for optimizing the image for your workflow and production environment.
Refined Body Design
With a new generation of Alpha-series cameras comes some slight tweaks and modifications designed to make the operation of the system more ergonomic. The a9 III features a handful of updates:
Addition of C5 custom button to front of camera body.
Continuous shooting mode dial can now be disabled and shooting speed can be adjusted in the menu.
Enhanced grip and the shutter button has been slightly moved to provide a more ergonomic experience.
Dual CFexpress Type A/SD card slots provide versatility, allowing users to use existing media or pick up the faster CFexpress options to take full advantage of the a9 III's increased speed.
USB-C port now offers faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s.
3.2" 2.1m-dot 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen LCD-first seen on the a7R V. This screen has a wide color gamut covering the DCI-P3 space.
9.44m-dot 0.90x OLED electronic viewfinder with maximum refresh rate of 240 fps. The a9 III benefits from maximum quality viewing at up to 120 fps.
Ethernet port for advanced networking and data transfer workflows.
The optional VG-C5 Vertical Grip is designed to match the updated ergonomics of the a9 III, including the new C5 button.
Enhanced Functionality and Usability
Sony has continued to improve the workflows of their professional cameras with upgraded and additional features:
A voice memo function promises clearer recording with a microphone located close to the user. These memos can be transferred via FTP and can be converted to text using Sony's Transfer & Tagging application.
IPTC metadata can be automatically added to images and up to 20 presets can be saved.
Image bursts can now be set to display as a group during playback to make it easier to navigate through a shoot, especially when using the a9 III's fastest continuous shooting rates.
Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet can be used for fast networked data transfer during shooting.
The a9 III is designed to be used in a wide ranging of shooting conditions and is weather sealed to protect it from the elements.
A shading curtain activates when the camera is powered off, protecting the camera's sensor from dust and the elements.
Future Firmware Updates
The Sony a9 III is going to get better with time and there are some details on what to expect in future firmware updates:
The ability to shooting continuously at up to 120 fps when using the maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 second.
Workflow enhancements for IPTC metadata and FTP functions.
Addition of C2PA technology from the Content Authenticity Initiative.
Impressive Speed and Sharpness
Combining speed, versatility, and quality, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is a normal-length prime that flexes a bright f/1.2 design and advanced optics while remaining portable and lightweight for everyday shooting. As a G Master lens, resolution and bokeh are top priorities, and this 50mm f/1.2 goes on to also include a sophisticated focusing system to suit both stills and video needs and a reliable physical design that's intuitive to use and durable enough for working in harsh environments.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G-Master Lens | Hands-on Review
Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G-Master Lens Video
Introducing FE 50mm F1.2 GM | Sony | Lens
G Master Resolution and Bokeh
G Master lenses prioritize sharpness and bokeh quality by featuring advanced optical designs and specialized elements.
Three XA (extreme aspherical) elements effectively control astigmatism, field curvature, coma, distortion, and other spherical aberrations for a high degree of sharpness and accurate rendering.
Nano AR Coating II has been applied to reduce surface reflections, flare, and ghosting for increased contrast and color rendering in strong lighting conditions. This updated coating is better suited for larger, curved elements and is especially adept at minimizing internal reflections.
Floating focus mechanism helps to ensure optimum and consistent sharpness throughout the focusing range.
Exceptional Speed and Versatility
Normal 50mm focal length suits a variety of subjects and shooting applications, ranging from portraiture and street shooting to landscapes, lifestyle, and architectural subjects.
Truly impressive f/1.2 maximum aperture yields extremely shallow depth of field results for separating subjects from busy backgrounds using selective focus.
Beyond depth of field control, the f/1.2 design also benefits shooting handheld and working with faster shutter speeds in low-light conditions.
Rounded 11-blade diaphragm helps produce a smooth and circular bokeh quality.
Fast and Precise AF
Four XD Linear Motors provide quick, quiet, and precise autofocus and subject tracking performance. This design also contributes to more natural, intuitive Linear Response manual focus control and an AF/MF switch is located on the lens barrel for tactile control over this setting.
XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors deliver high thrust to efficiently move larger, heavier elements and focus groups, such as those needed to produce an f/1.2 lens. This focusing system also achieves accurate focus when working with extremely shallow depth fo field effects.
Internal focusing design offers more responsive focusing performance and maintains a consistent overall lens length during operation.
Minimum focusing distance of 1.3' suits making dynamic close-up images.
A close minimum focusing distance, maximum magnification of 0.17x, and bright f/1.2 aperture help create shallow depth of field imagery with a strong close-up subject and a soft background.
Compact and Durable Design
Despite the wide f/1.2 maximum aperture, complex optical design, and inclusion of a high-performance AF system, this lens manages to still be relatively compact and lightweight for everyday handheld use, measuring 3.4 x 4.4" and weighing 1.7 lb.
Two focus hold buttons are featured on the lens barrel for intuitive tactile control and rapid access to select settings.
Physical aperture ring can be de-clicked for smooth, silent aperture switching to benefit video applications.
Dust- and moisture-sealed design better permits working in inclement conditions and rubberized control rings benefit handling in colder temperatures.
Fluorine-coated front element resists dust, moisture, and fingerprints and is easy to clean.
Sony A9 III Specs
Key Specs
Lens Mount
Sony E
Sensor Resolution
Actual: 25.2 Megapixel
Effective: 24.6 Megapixel (6000 x 4000)
Image Sensor
35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full-Frame) CMOS
Image Stabilization
Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
ISO/Gain Sensitivity
Photo
Native in Manual Mode: 250 to 25,600 (125 to 51,200 Extended)
Native in Auto Mode: 250 to 12,800 Video
Native in Manual Mode: 250 to 25,600
Native in Auto Mode: 250 to 12,800
Internal Recording Modes
XAVC HS/XAVC S/XAVC S-I 4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit
UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120 fps [30 to 600 Mb/s]
1920 x 1080 at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120 fps [16 to 222 Mb/s]
External Recording Modes
4:2:2 8-Bit via HDMI
UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98/25/29.97 fps
1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps
1920 x 1080 at 23.98/50/59.94 fps Raw 16-Bit via HDMI
4672 x 2628 at 23.98/29.97/59.94 fps
Media/Memory Card Slot
Dual Slot: CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II)
Video I/O
1x HDMI Output
Audio I/O
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Headphone Output
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Microphone Input
Power I/O
1x USB-C Input
Other I/O
1x PC Flash Sync Output
1x RJ45 Data Output
1x Sony Multi/Micro-USB Remote Input
1x USB-C Data Output (Shared with Power Input)
