Sony Alpha 7 III - The best entry-level full-frame camera?
The Sony Alpha 7 III is a real all-round beast! This article is less about dry technical data and lab tests of the image quality, but rather about my personal highlights, because I used the camera for a weekend.
Handling & Haptics:
First of all, I have to admit that I had the Alpha 7 R III with me on a city trip a month ago and was more than thrilled with the handling.
Compared to the previous generation - the Alpha 7 II, S II and R II - the user interface has changed quite a bit. New additions for the third generation are a joystick to adjust the focus area and navigate faster in the menu and a new wheel on the back that feels much more valuable on the A7 III than on the previous model. Overall, the buttons and new dial have an improved, more comfortable pressure point and feel. Another exciting feature for filmmakers is that the record button is now located on the front - to the right of the viewfinder. There, it can be quickly reached with the thumb. This is very practical for me, because I often switch between photo and video.
In practice, it looks like this for me: I set the camera through the viewfinder in M or A mode, take photos with the shutter button and videos with the record button. This way, I can capture a similar scene as both a photo and a video.
Autofocus & Eye Tracking:
The autofocus capabilities are simply insane and will delight any DSLR photographer.
The Sony Alpha 7 III works with 693 autofocus points that go all the way to the edge. With my DSLR, I often had to pull focus when shooting, so for portraits, for example, first focus on the eye and then crop. This method is very prone to error with an open aperture. Apart from the fact that you no longer have to worry about the focus for portraits thanks to the eye autofocus, the many measuring fields are a real help. Objects are tracked right to the edge! You can also find a demonstration of how fast this works in our video. Attention! Technical addition to the autofocus: Of the 693 measuring points, 425 are contrast detection autofocus points. The remaining measuring points are phase detection autofocus points, which are only located at the edge of the image. This means that contrast autofocus works much better than phase autofocus. This problem is especially visible in dark environments. When taking low-light pictures, you should therefore make sure that you mainly select the center metering points and not the metering points at the very edge.
For landscape photographers rather unimportant - for all others even more: The eye autofocus! As mentioned earlier, the eye autofocus is my personal highlight of the third generation of the Alpha 7. This function is especially exciting for people photographers. When the eye autofocus is activated, the frontal eye is automatically focused. I personally like to use this feature because I don't have to look through the viewfinder when I release the shutter. This allows me to concentrate more on the person in front of the camera. This function - in conjunction with silent shooting - is also very practical for street photography, as I can shoot more inconspicuously and the images become more authentic. In the practical test, the autofocus performed solidly! During the day, there were hardly any blurry photos and the autofocus almost always focused on what I wanted. However, in extreme open backlight situations, even this autofocus can't always keep up. The A7 III is a first-class camera, but it's no guarantee for sharp pictures. It takes some time to get used to all the settings and to use each focus option at the right moment, otherwise there is a risk that the camera will focus on something else. With fast moving objects the shutter speed plays an important role, I unfortunately relied too often on the A mode. (Aperture preset, automatic shutter speed, automatic ISO)
Battery life of the Sony Alpha 7 III:
The new generation of the Sony Alpha 7 series got a new battery. I have worked with the RII and SII before and the battery was a big weakness! I had the 7 R III with me for a week in New York and was very surprised by the new battery generation with which I got through the whole day. The Sony Alpha 7 III has the same battery installed and thereby the battery life, compared to the previous models, has been extended enormously!
A little tip if the battery goes flat on the road and you do not have a spare battery. You can also charge the camera via the USB-C port - with a powerbank. It is also good to know that the Alpha 7 III does not come with a charger and that the battery is charged in the camera by default. For those who are not yet familiar with the Sony Alpha system, here are a few basics about mirrorless system cameras:
Digital viewfinder and display:
The digital viewfinder and display of the Sony Alpha 7 III show the finished image in Live View. This makes it easier than ever to manually adjust the camera, because you can immediately see how the individual settings - such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO - change the image. The viewfinder has received some criticism, as it has a poorer resolution compared to the Alpha 7 R III. For one or the other, this may play a role: Personally, I now increasingly use the screen, or shoot unnoticed with eye autofocus in silent mode. To find the image frame, the viewfinder and screen are good. If you want to focus manually, you should either consider the 7 R III or use an external monitor for filming.
Sensor stabilization and shutter:
The built-in sensor stabilization helps capture the image sharply at slower shutter speeds and is very handy for handheld videos. If you adapt third-party lenses - which do not have a stabilizer installed yet - they will be stabilized and if you use original Sony lenses with image stabilizer, the two systems work together.
With the electronic shutter, you can release the shutter completely noiselessly.
Memory card slots and connectivity:
There are two SD slots built into the Sony Alpha 7 III, one of which also supports UHS II. The new speed standard ensures that photos can be written to the memory card even faster. After a series of shots, you can view and check the photos faster.
You can also transfer photos and videos to a mobile device via WLAN. I personally like to use this feature when I'm on the road and don't have a laptop with me. I then edit the images with the Lightroom Mobile app and share them on Instagram.
Sony Alpha 7 III
- Mirrorless Sony a7 III full frame camera
- 24.2-megapixel rear-exposure Exmor R CMOS image sensor captures every detail
- Extra wide dynamic range of 15 stops
- Autofocus system with 93 percent sensor coverage
- 4D FOCUS with 425 AF contrast autofocus points complemented by 693 phase autofocus points
- Continuous shooting speed of up to ten frames per second
- Mechanical or silent shutter release capability
Conclusion:
For me, the new Alpha 7 Allrounder is currently the best entry-level full-frame camera on the market! The mirrorless system brings some advantages, such as size and weight, and also offers me many more functions than SLR cameras.
Personally, I shoot a lot while traveling and make videos. For that, the Alpha 7 III is the perfect mix, because the S series didn't have enough megapixels for me to take photos and the Alpha 7 III gives me a lot of options for videos. The system camera is compact and light enough that I can mount it on a gimbal and it won't take up too much space on vacation. The autofocus performance is also important to me for filming, as I need to keep the focus on the Gimbal It took me some time to get used to the mirrorless system and I can understand every photographer who has respect for this step .I've come to love working with Sony Alpha series cameras because of the top-notch autofocus - especially the eye autofocus - combined with the many possibilities the Sony Alpha 7 III offers me as a shooter! By the way, for big hands that are used to a DLSR - there is a grip extension, so there is still room for the little finger. Lenses and adaptability are certainly important for switchers. The Sony system offers the greatest possibilities for using third-party lenses. There are various adapters in all price ranges. I personally have had good experiences with the Sigma MC-11.For those who want more: The Alpha 7 R III has even more megapixels and a better viewfinder. I hope to see something new in the S series soon as well.
