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.
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.
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Overview
Redefining Excellence
Sony's FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II takes the classic fast zoom and elevates performance to a whole new level. This lens builds upon the best parts of the original and makes them even better while simultaneously reducing weight by 29%—making this lens the lightest in its class. Sony has also given this lens a brand-new AF system that promises up to four times the speed and has made plenty of optical optimizations that will appeal to video shooters, including improvements to focus breathing and focus shift. Whether you shoot portraits, sports, landscapes, or video, the 70-200mm f/2.8 will get the job done.
Improved Optical Performance
A hallmark of the G Master line is outstanding optical performance with both high sharpness and smooth bokeh. Using a new design, the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II promises corner-to-corner sharpness across the entire zoom range—even when shooting wide open at f/2.8. Along with that, a newly designed 11-blade aperture helps create soft, pleasing bokeh.
Fast f/2.8 constant aperture allows users to capture images in dim lighting conditions and with a shallow depth of field.
Two ED (extra-low dispersion) and two Super ED elements, including one aspherical ED element, effectively suppress chromatic and spherical aberrations.
Two aspherical lenses, including one extreme aspherical lens (XA), minimize distance-related aberrations and also reduce 'onion ring' bokeh.
Nano AR Coating II controls flare and ghosting with support from a new optical design that reduces internal reflections.
An 11-blade aperture diaphragm helps create smooth, circular bokeh at all aperture settings.
Optimized for Video
Taking cues from their cinema division, Sony has optimized the 70-200mm II for video. Changes include a dramatic reduction of focus breathing and focus shift, improved autofocus performance, and a Linear Response MF system to ensure consistent, natural-feeling operation. Full-time Direct Manual Focus (DMF) also makes it easy to make quick adjustments using the focus ring while in AF modes.
The exterior design of the lens also sees some big changes. One clear example is the addition of a physical aperture ring that was not present on its predecessor. Users will be able to de-click this ring at the flip of a switch for smooth iris control during shooting. This provides shooters with independent controls for focus, zoom, and iris.
Fast Autofocus and Reliable Image Stabilization
Among the biggest improvements with the 70-200mm II is a vastly superior autofocus system. Now comprised of 4 XD Linear motors, the lens now performs up to four times faster. Focus tracking while zooming sees its own specific improvement of around 30% when compared to the previous model. Users will also enjoy high-speed continuous shooting at up to 30 fps with AF and video will benefit from the near-silent operation.
An advanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization system will ensure sharp images while shooting handheld at even the longest focal lengths. Multiple modes are available, including standard, panning, and a new Mode 3 for moving subjects.
Professional Design and Durability
Being designed for professional use, the 70-200mm II has been ruggedized with advanced weather sealing. The weight has also been reduced by approximately 29%, to just under 2.3 lb, making this model among the lightest in its class. Optics have also been designed for balance with an internal zoom mechanism, minimizing front heaviness to provide a more ergonomic center of gravity.
Other features of the physical design include three programmable focus hold buttons, all located in 90-degree increments, for more tactile control over select settings in both landscape and portrait orientation. Users also have a removable tripod foot for added stability on support systems.
Focus range limiter switch will optimize performance and improve AF speed and responsiveness in certain shooting scenarios.
Zoom ring torque has been optimized.
Iris lock switch prevents users from accidentally moving the aperture ring to or from the auto aperture position.
Front lens element has a fluorine coating that repels water, oil, and other contaminants and makes the lens easier to clean.
Included lens hood features a locking button and a filter window for easier adjustment of variable filters (e.g. polarizers, ND).
Teleconverter Compatibility
The FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is compatible with Sony's optional FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. These teleconverters can be used while still retaining full autofocus capabilities. When used, the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters will provide effective focal lengths and apertures of 98-280mm f/4 and 140-400mm f/5.6, respectively.
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)
