Sony a7S III
Announced July 28, 2020
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
Sony a7S III is a highly capable, video-centric mirrorless camera that excels in low-light environments and provides robust 4K recording up to 120fps. While it is an incredibly powerful tool for filmmakers, its 12MP sensor and premium price tag make it less suitable for those prioritizing high-resolution stills.
Weighted from 48 reviewer scores
Pros
- Improved ergonomics with a fully articulating screen, better menu structure, and full-size HDMI port
- Highly reliable and fast autofocus system
- Advanced video capabilities including 4K 120fps and 10-bit internal recording
- High-resolution electronic viewfinder
- Exceptional low-light performance and clean image quality
Cons
- Minor ergonomic and software limitations
- Low 12MP sensor resolution limits still photography potential
- Expensive price point and costly proprietary memory cards
- Lack of advanced features like 6K/8K recording, DCI 4K, and waveform monitoring
- 1.1x crop factor in high frame rate modes
- Launch price $3,499 (USD)
- Sensor 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS
- Video 4K 120p
- Stabilization In-body IS
- Burst 10 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 48 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 91/100
The Sony a7S III is a powerful video tool that can shoot 4K footage at up to 120p (up to 60p with no crop), in a variety of 10-bit formats to provide plenty of flexibility in terms of both grading and workflow.
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Sony kept us waiting five years for the third model in the A7S series, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
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It's essentially the perfect camera and it gets my highest recommendation.
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[T]he camera has a very good heat management and most users will never be limited by overheating.
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It doesn’t take long with the A7S III to be seriously impressed. Its 9.44m-dot viewfinder is incredible, and Sony’s new touch interface addressed one of our longest-running gripes.
- WIRED 9/10
If you’re a videographer already invested in the Sony E mount system, you should make this camera yours as soon as possible. It’s a stellar video performer packed with features, simpler to use than previous generations and built like a tank.
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If we cut to the chase, the Sony Alpha A7S III is, ultimately, designed for videographers.
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[T]he Sony A7S III is the most capable hybrid 4K video camera available today.
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It’s taken Sony five years to upgrade the video-centric A7S II to a Mark III, but the wait has been worth it for keen enthusiast and professional moviemakers.
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The Sony a7S III has one of the best 4K video feature sets you'll find in a full-frame mirrorless camera, including 120fps capture for slow-motion playback.
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Sony hasn’t just improved one or two aspects of its A7S series; with the new A7S III, it’s made an across-the-board set of upgrades that result in a camera that’s the best of its kind.
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The Sony a7S III is what a solid, feature-rich mirrorless camera for video looks like.
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I can't find many faults with this camera. It also improved autofocus and other features that I already liked, keeping the A7S III far ahead of rivals.
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I still think it is the very best camera for YouTubers, vloggers, and any one-man crew.
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A camera that just works.
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[T]his camera is amazing, and if you have $3,500 and are looking to buy a video-centric mirrorless camera, this should be on your list.
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[T]he Sony a7S III isn't perfect, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.
- Photo Review 8.9/10
The α7S III will appeal to professional and semi-professional photographers, in particular for its its ability to produce high-quality stills in very dim lighting, and for its sophisticated video features with extended video recording times.
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The Sony Alpha A7S III is the most impressive video-centric consumer camera to date. By using the right sensor, processing power and heat dissipation, Sony offers full-frame recording at staggering resolutions quality.
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The Sony a7S III is a powerhouse of a camera, not only bringing back unparalleled low light performance but also adding in recording features and processing advancements that result in some of the cleanest, sharpest images available.
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I really feel like for my particular needs at this point, for the kind of work I'll be doing outside of control conditions and also when I'm not just behind the camera, the Sony a7S III made a whole lot of sense.
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This is pretty much the perfect video centric camera with still a little bit of photographic use put in there and I kind of like it.
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The Sony A7S III is a full-frame, mirrorless camera with UHD 4K capabilities, with a heavy focus on video, making it the perfect match for content creators.
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I can safely say after 2 days of using this out in the wilderness of Alaska, like literally we hiked 18 mi to get where we were and to do the things we were doing out there. This camera has just changed the way I create.
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With so many amazing features offered by the Sony a7S III, it’s hard to not feel the desire to upgrade. Although I only had this camera for a few weeks, I will soon be adding it to my kit.
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Sony a7S III is a great 4K camera and I highly recommend it basically to all filmmakers who can utilize at least a sensible part of its potential.
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As you can tell, I really love this camera.
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[T]he final verdict of the Sony a7S III: it might be a perfect—it might be the closest thing that we've ever gotten to a perfect camera.
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Sony’s new, video-centric full-frame mirrorless camera. Unbelievable low-light capabilities and slo-mo looks great, too.
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I've been hard on Sony for the last decade, but they have finally won me over. The a7S III is easily my favorite video camera.
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The A7S III is a camera for people with special needs, specifically, those who need high ISOs higher than anything and are willing to pay dearly for the slight improvement, or those who need any of the new video or other features specific to the A7S III.
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If you're a video-first shooter, then you shouldn't even think twice about picking up the Sony A7S III. [...] However, this is far more than a video-centric device.
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If you're into serious filmmaking and you need 4K over 60fps, a fast focus, a stunning low-light performance, and autofocus performance, then I can absolutely recommend this camera.
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From the lowest settings to the highest, this camera gives you a great looking footage, and I think that makes Sony a7S III a fantastic camera and a great investment. To me, this is the perfect camera.
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If a professional were to ask me which is the best mirrorless camera for video, I’d say the Sony a7S III is, at this moment, the best mirrorless camera for video.
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For videographers who need an advanced tool, and who may work a lot with multiple camcorders and place high demands on file quality and formats, the Sony a7s III is in the top three list among the best full-frame system cameras, in today’s market.
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This camera is something that a lot of people have been waiting very patiently for and I'm so glad that we finally have all the details. And I'm so glad that I actually got a chance to take a look at this for you guys. And I can promise you you're not gonna be disappointed.
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At the time of recording this, you can get these Sony a7S III online for $3,500. This thing is again, I think it's highly worth it.
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Unsurprisingly, it's a great camera.
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It has everything that I personally need and more, so I love the Sony a7S III and I'm very confident that 99.99% of you who buy this camera will be too.
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Here's my conclusion: for all of the reasons I just listed, that's why I think the Sony a7S III is the perfect video camera that you can get on the market right now.
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Considering all the specs and features and capabilities I’ve shared with you, it has been a long wait, much longer than me or arguably any filmmaker wanted. But I think it has been worth it.
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It's not the newest kit on the block, but for the right creator, it's still one of the best. This one's still got a place in my kit, and I think it will for years to come.
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It's a little bit different conversation when you think of the a7S III is twice the price and it does have more bells and whistles like wonderful autofocus.
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Sony to me is my hybrid hero and I see a bright future with her.
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[T]he Sony A7S III is an impressive camera that delivers excellent image and video quality, along with a wide range of features that make it a versatile and capable camera for various shooting situations.
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At the end of the day, my conclusion is that this camera is the best camera and if you were to buy it, I don't think you would regret it.
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For us overall, the a7S III is, I would say, the perfect camera.
