Review: Sony A7R III specs

The Sony A7R III , announced in late 2017, is a highly-specified, full-frame mirrorless model that boasts rapid shooting capabilities and a high-resolution sensor to help to deliver high-quality images. With an impressive 42.4 megapixels, the Sony A7R III can shoot up to ten frames per second and features five-axis optical in-body stabilisation to allow you to shoot hand-held with slower shutter speeds.

The Sony A7R III's full-frame CMOS sensor is a backside-illuminated (BSI) design, which means the camera is capable of performing low light photography. The sensor operates in tandem with a front-end LSI and BIONZ X processor, which helps to enable a top continuous shooting speed of 10 fps and up to 15 stops of dynamic range at low ISO values, enabling richer tones in your still images. That 10 fps speed is more than capable of capturing fast-moving action, ideal for wildlife or sports photography—this is further helped by a top shutter speed of 1/8000sec. The combination of the high-resolution sensor with a sophisticated processor means image quality will be excellent across a wide variety of other subjects, such as landscapes and portraits, with 14-bit RAW image output possible.

The autofocus system features 399 on-sensor phase-detection points that cover 68% of the frame, plus 425 contrast-detection autofocus points. The ‘Fast Hybrid AF’ system on the camera means you get a combination of accurate focus tracking of fast-moving subjects, via phase detection, and accurate reading of still subjects, via contrast detection. The autofocus system also offers Eye AF, which can be used with AF-C (continuous) for fast and efficient tracking of eyes when shooting. It’s also billed as ‘4D Focus’, which means the camera takes into account time elapsing alongside space—in effect, it’s a predictive autofocus system that tracks and calculates where your subject will go next.

To ensure steady shooting, the A7R III has a built-in five-axis stabilisation system, which uses a stabilisation unit, gyro sensors and algorithms to help to achieve a five-stop shutter speed advantage, even when hand-holding the camera. This means you can shoot with slower shutter speeds without any fear of camera shake in your still pictures. The system operates with a wide range of lenses, thus further expanding your hand-held shooting possibilities.

The standard ISO range is 100-32,000, but this can be expanded to ISO 50 and up to a maximum of ISO 102,800. This means you can shoot in almost any light condition while retaining fine details in pictures—this is helped by Sony’s Noise Reduction technology, which can work on exposures longer than one second and at high ISOs.

On the rear of the camera, there’s a three-inch [7.62cm], adjustable LCD touchscreen with a 1.44million dot resolution—it can be tilted up by approx. 107 degrees and down by approx. 41 degrees. Touchscreen control enables you to adjust autofocus settings, including selecting the focus point, when you’re in any of the autofocus area modes. The camera’s spec also includes 4K video shooting at 30p—oversampled from 5K capture—WiFi with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity, and full remote camera control with a live preview.

In the mirrorless camera arena, the Sony A7R III is a major player in terms of the sheer potential image quality it is capable of delivering. A full-frame 42.4-megapixel sensor is able to produce images that can easily be blown up to poster size and beyond. It has also benefited from 'trickle-down' technologies and design aspects taken from a higher spec Sony camera—the Sony A9—so, you’re effectively getting more powerful specs and better ease of use for your money. If you take shooting stills seriously and want great quality, then the A7R III is well worth closer inspection.