Sony introduces the α7R III. Its new 42.4 MP Exmor R CMOS image sensor achieves shooting speeds of up to 10 fps with full AF/AE tracking. The α7R III also delivers 4K video quality, a wide dynamic range of up to 15 stops, and high sensitivity with noise reduction.
Image Quality
The 42.4 MP Exmor R CMOS image sensor uses a gapless on-chip lens design and has an AR (anti-reflective) coating on the surface of the sensor’s sealing glass for more efficient light collection. This increases sensitivity, expands dynamic range, and reduces noise.
The Sony α7R III features a new front-end LSI that doubles the image sensor’s readout speed. The camera also has a new BIONZ X image processor that is 1.8 times faster than the processor in the α7R II.
To ensure maximum detail in each image, this model does not have an anti-aliasing filter. The camera offers 14-bit RAW output, while the 5-axis in-body image stabilization system in the α7R III is optimized for the 42.4 MP sensor and provides 5.5 stops of stabilization. The camera also has a new shutter that reduces vibration and image blur, even at 10 fps. More accurate reproduction of skin tones has also been addressed.
Autofocus System and AF/AE Tracking
The updated image processor in the Sony α7R III enables 42.4 MP shooting at 10 fps, with accurate AF/AE tracking for up to 76 JPEG/RAW images or 28 uncompressed RAW images. This ultra-fast 10 fps mode is available with either the mechanical shutter or completely silent shooting. The camera can also shoot continuously at up to 8 fps in Live View mode, with minimal lag in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.
While burst images are being saved to the memory card, key camera functions remain available. These include the Fn (Function) and Menu buttons, image playback, and several other options, including image ratings and functions for sorting images by location.
When a shooting location is lit by fluorescent or other artificial light, the anti-flicker function can be activated. The α7R III then automatically detects the lighting frequency and adjusts the shutter speed.
The updated focusing system has 399 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 68% of the frame both horizontally and vertically. The α7R III also has 425 contrast-detection AF points, an increase of 400 points over the α7R II. This advanced system can autofocus approximately twice as fast as the α7R II in low-light conditions, with tracking that is also approximately twice as accurate. The Eye AF system is likewise twice as effective as that of the α7R II.
Imaging Edge and Pixel Shift Multi Shooting
New to the Sony α7R III is the Imaging Edge software suite, which expands its creative possibilities. Imaging Edge consists of three desktop applications: Remote, Viewer, and Edit. They can be downloaded free of charge and support remote Live View shooting from a computer and RAWdevelopment.
169.6 MP of Image Data
The new Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode uses 5-axis in-body image stabilization to create lifelike composite images at extremely high resolution. In this mode, the camera shifts the sensor by exactly one pixel to capture four different photographs that together contain approximately 169.6 MP of image data. Using Imaging Edge, these images can be combined and processed. The result is a photograph with exceptionally high resolution and color accuracy. The mode is suitable for photographing architecture, art, and other still subjects with extensive detail and color.
The new Sony α7R III full-frame camera was scheduled to become available in the Benelux from November for € 3,500.
