In the Field: Sony A7 III Full-frame Mirrorless Camera

It’s now been a few years since Sony released its mirrorless A7 III. With its 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, in-body image stabilisation and 4K video, the Sony A7 III still offers all the all-around essentials. While the menu system takes some getting used to, this camera’s features make it a great choice for pros and serious amateurs on a budget.

Over the last decade or so, Sony has taken mirrorless technology and really run with it. They forced the industry to look at the capabilities and potential of mirrorless for video and pro-level stills. Sure, Fujifilm had a hand in this too—but people really took notice when Sony finessed mirrorless using a full-frame sensor.

The original Sony A7 sat between the resolution-monster Sony A7R and the video-camera-killing Sony A7S. The A7 was the camera for the every-person—slightly lower resolution than the A7R version, but with some low light ability and video-centric features borrowed from the A7S version. The Sony A7 III brought everything together beautifully and further improved on its strengths.

The combination of resolution, usability, battery life, ISO performance and video features—as well as access to Sony’s ever-growing range of lenses—make the Sony A7 III one of the strongest budget contenders on the full-frame mirrorless camera market.

MPB and Pablo Strong visited an abandoned building — with permission, of course — to review the Sony A7 III. Over to you, Pablo.

We’re taking a look at the Sony A7 III. Many people consider its predecessor, the Sony A7 II, to be one of the best all-around cameras for both photography and video. Naturally, I’m excited to see how the A7 III performs. To put this camera through its paces, we’re testing both its video and photo capabilities. In fact, the video was shot on an A7 III, and we also captured stills with it. We’ve come to an incredible, slightly eerie location, which I think will be a great setting to test the camera’s performance—particularly in low-light conditions and to see how well its dynamic range holds up.

Ergonomics

One of the first things to note about the A7 III is its ergonomics. Personally, I find it really nice to use. Sony has taken a lot of criticism for its menu systems, but I don’t find them to be an issue. With any new camera, you simply learn how the menu works. I’ve customised mine to fit my shooting style, and after setting it up, everything I need is right at my fingertips. There’s an exposure compensation dial, a shutter speed dial, and another dial at the front for adjusting the aperture. The back layout is simple and intuitive, featuring a small joystick for focus point selection. Overall, I think Sony has designed this camera really well. I also love its modern, geometric design, which gives it a sleek and professional feel.

Low-light performance

In recent years, one of the biggest improvements in cameras has been low-light performance. High ISO capabilities have advanced across all brands, but since Sony has been in the full-frame mirrorless game longer than its competitors, its cameras consistently outperform the competition in low light. This means that you can shoot in challenging lighting conditions, like today’s setting, which features deep shadows and small pockets of natural light. The A7 III allows you to preserve a significant amount of detail in the shadows, which is crucial for post-production editing.

This is especially beneficial for event and wedding photographers, who often work in difficult lighting conditions. With this camera, you don’t have to worry about losing valuable details in dark environments. Additionally, the A7 III offers great flexibility with other settings. You can stop down your aperture to f/16 if necessary and compensate with the camera’s impressive ISO performance. This versatility makes it an excellent option for shooting in all lighting conditions.

Lens Compatibility

I used a native Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* lens, which delivers excellent sharpness and depth of field. However, it’s worth mentioning that Sony’s mirrorless systems are highly adaptable to other manufacturers’ lenses. With a simple adapter, you can mount Canon, Nikon and other third-party lenses onto the A7 III, making it a flexible option if you’ve already invested in a different camera ecosystem. This adaptability is a huge advantage for photographers transitioning from DSLR to mirrorless.

Conclusion

After spending the day shooting with the Sony A7 III, I’ve really enjoyed using it. The form factor is great, and it excels in low light—I never felt limited by its ISO capabilities. The autofocus system is incredibly fast, though I didn’t test it on fast-moving subjects today. However, based on my experience, I’m confident that it would perform well in action scenarios.

So, who is this camera for? If you’re like me and shoot both video and photography, the A7 III might be the perfect hybrid option. I’m always searching for one system that can handle both without compromise. With this model, Sony has combined the image quality of the A9 with the best video features from the A7S II, making it their best all-around offering for hybrid shooters.

Sony A7 III specs

Want to know more about the Sony A7 III? Check out how cityscape photographer Douglas Jubic got on with the Sony A7 III, or read more camera gear guides on the MPB content hub.