Sony Announces New A7III – A “Basic” Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
Sony just announced their new camera during the WPPI, the A7III is a full frame mirrorless camera with almost identical video capabilities as their more expensive a7R III. Could this be a glimpse as to what is coming from Sony in the near future? The a7 has been Sony’s base model for their “S & R” counterparts, making the new A7III their most affordable option that could cater nicely to the needs of some videographers, filmmakers, and photographers on a budget.
Sony calls the A7II their basic full-frame camera and a game-changer. It has a new back illuminated Exmor R CMOS 24.2MP full-frame image sensor, 693 phase detection AF points, silent shooting, 4K HDR, 5-axis stabilization, and dual SD card slots. It even adopted the joystick from the a9 camera, making it a lot easier to move around the menu system and quickly adjust AF points.
The camera shoots 4K in XAVC S by super sampling a 6K image with a maximum bitrate of 100 Mbps. Sony also claims that battery life will be improved by using the NP-FZ100, the same batteries used in the a9 and a7R III. The left side of the camera has a USB 3.1 (Gen 1) port, a nice upgrade making it easier to quickly transfer video footage and photos, especially when taking 14-bit RAW images.
According to Sony, Eye AF can now be used with AF-C mode and has been improved by being able to focus even when the face/eye is partially hidden, looking down, or backlit. The A7III has focus control via touch screen, allowing video shooters to fingertip drag the focus frame while using the viewfinder.
Other features include a Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) for instant HDR workflow, S-Log3 support with a dynamic range of up to 14 stops, anti-flicker shooting, and 204800 ISO. Sony seems to be targeting hybrid video shooters and photographers with the options on this camera, offering plenty of features for both.
The A7III retails for USD$1,999 for the body alone, and is available with a 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 kit lens going for USD$2,199. You can view the full specs of the camera on Sony’s website here.
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