Sony presents the Alpha 9 III - the world's first camera with a full-frame sensor and global shutter systemi
The groundbreaking Alpha 9 III impresses with high-speed continuous shooting at up to 120 frames per second, distortion- and blackout-free images, flash synchronization at all shooting speeds and much more
Sony today presents the groundbreaking new Alpha 9 III, which features the world's firsti full-frame sensor with global shutter.
The Alpha 9 III's innovative new full-frame sensor with global shutter enables continuous shooting at up to 120 frames per second without distortion or blackouts. The groundbreaking sensor is joined by Sony's most advanced AF system to date - with AI-based autofocus at up to 120 AF/AE calculations per second - and the ability to synchronize the flash at all shooting speeds. With this combination, the Alpha 9 III opens up a wealth of new possibilities for professional photographers to capture that one, decisive moment.
"The new Alpha 9 III is a milestone for Sony's imaging business," says Yann Salmon Legagneur, Head of IP&S Marketing, Sony Europe. "Every single innovation in this camera - from the sensor and size to the button layouts and menu functions - has been specifically tailored to the needs of professional photographers and takes into account specific requests and feedback from our imaging community. We have embraced the feedback and are delighted to now present the Alpha 9 III with its new capabilities - capabilities that allow photographers to capture things that could never be captured before." Salmon Legagneur continues: "Even more dynamic expressive possibilities open up when creatives combine the Alpha 9 III with lenses from our extensive range, especially the new 300mm F2.8 G Master - the world's lightest wide-aperture telephoto lens."
Features of the Alpha 9 III
The world's first full-frame sensor with global shutter system opens up a new dimension in photo quality:
The Alpha 9 III is equipped with a newly developed image sensor with 24.6 effective megapixelsiii and integrated memory - the world's firsti stacked CMOS full-frame sensor with global shutter - combined with the latest BIONZ XR® image processor. The Alpha 9 III thus enables continuous shooting without blackouts at up to approx. 120 frames per secondiv and AF/AE trackingiv. The AF system with phase detection in the focal plane achieves high coverage.
A dedicated AI processing unit uses AF with real-time detection to capture a wide range of subjects with high precision. The combination of the high frame rate of up to 120 frames per second and high-precision subject recognition makes it easy to capture decisive scenes and moments that the naked eye cannot captureiv. The Alpha 9 III's AI processing unit makes it possible to precisely recognize subject shapes and movements in both filming and photography. The recognition of human eyes has also been significantly improved: the autofocus with real-time detection and real-time tracking technology ensure that the eyes of a subject are automatically recognized, tracked and focusedv. The Alpha 9 III also features powerful 5-axis optical image stabilization with 8.0 stops of exposure compensationvi for high-quality image composition.
Free from the limitations imposed by conventional mechanical shutter image sensors, the Alpha 9 III achieves a maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 sec (1/16,000 sec for continuous shooting)vii. This allows you to shoot at high speed without distortion. When a compatible Sony flashviii such as the HVL-F60RM2 or HVL-F46RM (sold separately) is attached, it can be synchronized with the shutter at all shutter speeds up to 1/80,000 sec.vii. Previously, when the shutter was triggered at a speed higher than the flash's sync speed, the amount of light was greatly reduced. The function for flash synchronization at the highest speed now makes it possible to capture scenes that can hardly be photographed with conventional technology. A function is also available to counteract problems caused by high-frequency flickering due to LED lighting when taking photos or filming. If such flicker problems are detected on the camera monitor, the shutter speed can be fine-tuned to significantly reduce the flicker effects.
The Alpha 9 III offers selectable shutter delay modes that allow priority to be given to either the shutter delay or the viewfinder/monitor displayix. With the new Pre-Capture function, users can go back up to 1 second to capture the moment before the shutter button is pressed. A continuous shooting boost functionx makes it possible to change the continuous shooting speed while shooting. The longer burst duration ensures that important moments are captured reliably: Thanks to a large buffer memory and the increased overall speed of the system, up to approximately 390 Fine JPEG imagesxi can be captured during continuous shooting at 30 frames per secondxii.
The focus range settings have been expanded to offer a choice of sizes from XS to XL instead of the previous sizes S, M and L. The Preset Focus/Zoom function allows preset focus and zoom settings to be stored in the camera for quick recall when neededxiii. In addition to the existing image size for custom white balance, users can now select other sizes to fine-tune the white balance according to the image composition. Other optimized features of the Alpha 9 III include: the latest AF algorithms for high AF precision up to light levels of 5 EV in AF-S mode (ISO 100 equivalent, F2.0 Lens) - AF tracking for continuous shooting at F22xiv; and a RAW image combining function that allows multiple consecutive shots to be merged into one high-quality image.
Excellent video recordings without distortion
The image sensor with global shutter not only ensures distortion-free images when taking photos, but also when recording video. This makes it easy to capture fast-moving subjects, for example, or to record passing landscapes in a car or train. The Alpha 9 III is the first camera in the Alpha series to be able to record 4K 120p video without crop, allowing users to shoot with the intended angle of view. High-resolution 4K 60p video with 6K oversampling is also possible.
The Alpha 9 III supports the S-Cinetone image profile, which is based on the development of the VENICE digital cinema camera. S-Cinetone ensures an impressive display of skin tones, allows subjects to be emphasized and creates natural highlights. The camera also offers a variety of advanced functions and features for high-quality video, such as fine gradation, S-Log3 recording and the ability to import, apply and display LUT files in Log recording mode. The Alpha 9 III is also compatible with the Monitor & Control mobile app for video creators.
Professional usability and reliability
Sony has designed the Alpha 9 III with feedback from professional photographers to meet their demands for usability and reliability. For example, the shape of the grip has been ergonomically redesigned to make holding the camera easy and fatigue-free, even when using a telephoto lens or taking long shots.
The VG-C5 portrait grip (sold separately) makes operating the camera in the vertical position as comfortable and versatile as in the horizontal position and ensures a stable grip even on long shoots. The grip and shutter release area share the same design as the camera body, allowing users to shoot in a familiar way. The Alpha 9 III is equipped with a 4-axis LCD monitor with adjustable angle, which can be operated intuitively via a newly designed touch menu. The electronic Quad-XGA OLED viewfinder with 9.44 million dots provides the same brightness as the Alpha 7R V and around 0.90x viewfinder magnificationx for excellent subject representation. There is a user-defined button on the front of the camera. If this is assigned the boost function for continuous shooting and pressed with the finger holding the grip, the continuous shooting speed can be changed immediately. This perfectly supports professional photographers when shooting in any environment.
High-speed workflow and scalability for instant deployment
New features of the Alpha 9 III include an image playback filter that can be used to efficiently select images in large numbers during high-speed continuous shooting and a function menu that can also be used during image playback.
Both functions greatly help to facilitate professional workflows from shooting to delivery.
The "Playback Function Menu" can be pre-assigned so that users can perform protection functions, smartphone transfer, FTP transfer, etc.
during image playback. A playback filter can be used to select specific images and play them back via the function menu for quick deployment. There is a dedicated microphone on the back of the camera for voice memos, and the built-in microphone near the mouth enables clear audio recording even in noisy environments. The recorded audio data can be transferred together with the images via FTP. The camera also allows you to set up to 20 presets from the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC), an international association of news agencies from different countries.
With the Alpha 9 III, data can be transferred up to twice as fast as with the Alpha 9 II. The 5 GHz connection provides the maximum speed and stability that news and sports photographers need to transfer images instantly via FTP, and which is also required in studio environments. The Alpha 9 III also offers a wide range of options for recording photos and movies on storage media. It has two media slots that support CFexpress Type A cards as well as UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards.
The camera is compatible with the Transfer & Tagging mobile application, which helps professionals transfer images quickly, and the Remote Camera Tool application, which allows cameras to be operated from a computer via a wired LAN. Sony also plans to support a new version of the Camera Remote SDK, a software development kit that enables remote control of cameras and changes to shooting settings.
In addition, a camera software updatexvii is planned that will bring functional enhancements to the Alpha 9 III, such as FTP functions, relay playback and support for the C2PAxv formatxvi.
Finally, Sony will also provide features such as breathing correction, relay playback and C2PA format support for the α1 and α7S IIIxvii to meet the needs of professional photographers on these models as well.
Footnotes:
i
Compared to digital interchangeable lens cameras. At the time of product announcement in November 2023. Research by Sony.
ii
At the time of product announcement in November 2023. Research by Sony on 300mm F2.8 interchangeable lenses for full-frame digital cameras.
iii
Approximately, effectively.
iv
Test conditions by Sony. Maximum continuous shooting rate may be lower under certain shooting conditions. Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on the Lens used in AF-C focus mode. For information on lens compatibility, please visit the Sony support website: https://www.sony.net/dics/ilce9m3cnlns/ A software update for the lens itself is also required. The software is expected to be released after December 2023.
v
When subject detection is enabled during AF shooting. The detection status of faces, eyes, etc. can be monitored when the subject detection frame display is enabled.
vi
CIPA standards. Pitch/yaw only. Lens FE 50 mm F1.2 GM. Long exposure NR disabled.
vii
The maximum shutter speed is 1/16,000 sec. when an aperture of F1.8 or larger is used. The shutter speed of 1/80,000 sec. is not available when shooting movies when the Variable Shutter function is used or when no Lens is mounted.
viii
A software update is required. It will be released at the same time as the Alpha 9 III. Some differences in brightness and color may occur between shots at shutter speeds faster than 1/10,000 sec. The light intensity may not reach the manually set light output at some shutter speeds, resulting in insufficient light intensity. For more information, visit the support page https://www.sony.net/dics/ilce9m3fl/
ix
In the default setting [Auto/Off], no blackout occurs when shooting starts and the shutter speed is controlled for optimal display latency. The [Fast shutter release/on] setting ensures the shortest possible shutter release delay, with a blackout only occurring on the first frame during continuous shooting. The [Stable release/on] setting minimizes fluctuations in the release delay, with a blackout occurring only on the first frame during continuous shooting, making it easier to release the shutter at the intended moment.
x
Continuous shooting may be interrupted when the continuous shooting speed boost function is used to switch from a low shooting speed to a shooting speed faster than 60 fps, or when switching from a high shooting speed to a shooting speed slower than 30 fps.
xi
With Sony CEA-G160T CFexpress Type A memory cards (sold separately). Sony test conditions.
xii
Sony test conditions. Under certain shooting conditions, the maximum continuous frame rate may be lower. In AF-C focus mode, the continuous shooting speed depends on the Lens used. For information on lens compatibility, refer to the Sony support website.
xiii
The focus preset works with compatible Lens such as the FE 300 mm F2.8 GM OSS. The preset focus/zoom settings cannot be recalled while the shutter button is pressed halfway. With fixed focal lengths, only the focus can be preset. If a zoom lens without power zoom is attached, the focus/zoom positions can only be saved and recalled remotely using the Remote Camera Tool computer software.
The preset focus/zoom can only be recalled if the Lens that was mounted when the settings were saved is used. Not all Lens are compatible.
xiv
When [ApertureFn. at AF] is set to [Focus Priority], the aperture size may be smaller than F22. The results depend on the shooting conditions and the Lens used.
xv
A standards organization that develops open standards and technical specifications for the origin and authenticity of digital content.
xvi
Will be available in selected countries and regions.
xvii
Software update available in spring 2024.
