Sony a7R III
Announced October 25, 2017
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The Sony a7R III is a versatile, high-resolution mirrorless camera that significantly improves upon its predecessor with faster autofocus, a larger battery, and enhanced ergonomics. While it remains a top-tier choice for professional stills and video, some users may find its complex menu system and limited touchscreen functionality a hurdle to overcome.
Weighted from 42 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent image quality with high resolution and dynamic range
- Fast, reliable autofocus with advanced eye-tracking
- Significantly improved battery life
- Responsive 10fps burst shooting
- Refined ergonomics including a joystick and better grip
Cons
- Complex and unintuitive menu system
- Limited touchscreen utility
- Only one SD card slot supports UHS-II speeds
- Slow buffer clearing times
- Video limitations including 8-bit internal recording
- Launch price $3,199 (USD)
- Sensor 42.4MP Full-Frame
- Stabilization In-body IS, 5.5 stops (CIPA)
- Burst 10 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 42 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 90/100
It's fair to say that the Sony a7R III is a great option for an incredibly wide variety of photographers.
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The Sony A7R III sees improvements in pretty much every area [...]
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Sony’s really thrown everything into the A7r Mark III to deliver one of the most capable and impressive cameras I’ve tested.
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While the a9 remains a better Sony option for some fast action sports and similar uses, the a7R III is my strong preference for most other uses and it is my most-recommended Sony camera model.
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I was personally more excited for the release of the Sony a7R3 than any camera in a long time, and after spending six weeks with the camera my enthusiasm isn’t really diminished.
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There is no denying that Sony has achieved a huge milestone with the A7R mk3, in every single way.
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The Sony a7R III is a fantastic camera; it does everything well.
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Before the A7R Mark III (and D850), you had to choose between having a high-resolution camera with a maximum shooting speed of 5fps (5DS, and A7R II), or a high-speed camera with fast continuous shooting (such as the Leica SL, A9, etc), and a lower resolution of 24mp.
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The A7R III is the most well-balanced Sony camera to date, offering a compelling mix of resolution, speed and size that also makes it one of the best cameras that we've ever reviewed, be that mirrorless or DSLR.
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Quite simply, the Sony A7R III is a ludicrously brilliant camera, and one of the very best on the market.
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The a7R III takes Sony's proven high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera and improves upon its speed, autofocus system, and video capabilities.
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Sony has taken one of our favorite mirrorless cameras and bolstered the performance to make the new Alpha A7R III a much more capable and well-rounded offering.
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We enjoyed using the a7R III; the images we got from it look great and Sony fixed the big issues with the prior model.
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[W]hen combining the amazing quality and dynamic range we've come to expect from Sony cameras I'm really impressed with this camera.
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Given the ever-growing line of Sony and third-party FE lenses and adapters, most photographers—particularly wedding and portrait shooters—will find their favorite focal lengths for the a7R III.
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Ergonomically, this is a much nicer camera and more professional feeling camera to use than the Mark II was.
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So if you're making money with your camera and you use a lot for video, I think it's worth selling and upgrading.
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The Sony A7RIII IS the best Mirrorless 35mm full frame camera you can buy today as of January 2018. IMO, it is the best full frame digital camera available as of Jan 2018.
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In terms of all-round competence, the Sony A7R III goes head-to-head with the Nikon D850 as the best full-frame camera money can buy.
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The combination of 42.2MP, 10fps burst shooting and a very sophisticated AF system makes this a very attractive camera indeed: Sony has taken an already excellent mirrorless camera and made it even better.
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Despite its relative newcomer status to serious digital photography, Sony has made huge strides to catch up with its veteran rivals – and the A7R III is testament to that.
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If you have been considering going mirrorless, I would say the Sony a7R III is one of your best options. It has everything a full frame mirrorless camera should have and more.
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If you are looking for a high resolution landscape or portrait camera with good all-round capabilities and very nice 4K video, I can highly recommend Sony a7R IIIa.
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Now the reason I start this video by stating that is that I think with this particular model, the Sony a7R III, the brand are really starting to reach a bit of a tipping point where actually they can be considered a true professional option.
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If you have the skill, clients, display size, display medium, viewing distances, ambition, a real but limited budget, and can live with the ergos, the Sony a7R III with its lens ecosystem is extraordinary and truly worthy.
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There's little doubt in my mind that the A7Rm3 is a great camera. Sony has improved the previous model in so many useful ways that the A7R now stands up against many DSLRs.
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The bottom line is that this camera is absolutely amazing and is unarguably one of the best cameras you can buy, period.
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Stick with lenses sold by Sony, be they branded Sony or Zeiss, for the best results as you expect. Sony's G and GM lenses are especially excellent in every way on the A7R III.
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The Sony a7R III definitely shines at the top tier of the full-frame camera market.
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This is without a doubt the best camera that I've used in my photography career.
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Several small steps for A7R III, one giant leap for Sony-kind.
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It seems like each time we review a new Sony mirrorless camera, there is less and less to talk about. [...] But isn't that a good thing?
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This still feels like a modern camera, a current camera.
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It's a strong option, but it isn't inexpensive. The lenses aren't inexpensive, but you do get a Ton of capability and flexibility for your money, and if that's important to you, definitely take a look at this camera.
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For me, the Sony a7R III represents one of the best used deals right now for photographers.
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[M]y final thoughts on the Sony a7R III is a fantastic camera, especially now for the new price on the camera.
- KelbyOne Insider 90%
The Sony a7R III is one of the top cameras that I’ve used and, with the numerous lenses available, it adds up to a professional system that should be seriously considered.
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Even from my relatively brief time with the camera, I feel confident in saying that the Sony a7R III is truly spectacular and worth every penny of its $3,200 price tag.
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This is a great camera to travel with; however, I don't know if I can make this my main everyday primary shooter.
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The Sony a7R III is the best overall hybrid camera in 2017, period.
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Going forward, the a7RIII will be the camera to beat for full frame professionals looking for the ultimate in image quality, features, and performance.
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The Sony Alpha A7R III is easily one of the best cameras you can buy at the moment.
