Test: How good is the Sony A7 III?
17.4.2018
Translation: machine translated
Co-author: Stephanie Tresch
Pictures: Dominik Bärlocher, David Lee
Video: Stephanie Tresch
We, video producer Stephanie Tresch and photo editor David Lee, tried out the Sony A7 III. Naturally, Stephanie focussed on the video function and David took a closer look at the photo functions.
The Sony A7 III is the successor to the Sony A7 II. Here you can find a direct comparison of the specifications. A lot has changed in the three years, from the autofocus to the continuous shooting speed to the double memory card slot.
If you're not familiar with Sony's model range, you may be confused by the fact that the A7R and A7S are available alongside the A7 - also in different versions. So here's a brief explanation:
- A7 is the all-round model
- A7R is a camera optimised for particularly high resolution and is therefore suitable for landscape, architecture or studio photography
- A7S is a camera optimised for video with low resolution but high sensitivity
Photo tests by David
Image quality is generally considered to be the most important aspect of a camera review. But I find that the higher the general standard, the less important it becomes. Of course, the image quality of the Sony A7 III is outstanding - after all, it's a full-frame camera from 2018. Anything else would be a huge disappointment. However, a manufacturer can hardly stand out from the crowd with this today. Other full-frame cameras and even some APS-C cameras today also offer extremely good noise behaviour in the high ISO range and a high dynamic range.
If you want to know for sure, it's best to take a look at the lab tests from dpreview.com. The results briefly summarised: The A7 III is significantly better than its direct predecessor, the A7 II, and is therefore also usable in low light. However, the dynamic range is only slightly better than that of the A7R II and A7R III, although these have a significantly higher resolution.
How far you can push the ISO depends of course on the intended use and the respective requirements. For images on the web that you can scale down, I would go up to 12800 ISO without hesitation. Only above that do you need to take a closer look.
The Sony technical specifications state that the automatic ISO can only be turned up to 12800. That's wrong, I have the camera here on my desk and can go up to 204 800 ISO. In everyday life, this allows me to use a new type of automatic, namely the one in M mode. I set a fixed aperture and exposure and regulate the brightness via the ISO value. This can be very practical for action shots with a telephoto lens: I want to keep the exposure time very short, but at the same time be able to control the aperture. And that in changing light conditions.
About action. At 10 frames per second, this camera is like a Formula One racing car, only less noisy. Or rather, silent. I have often tried to photograph birds in motion, usually without success. With this camera it worked straight away. One important reason was that I could continue to follow the bird in the viewfinder during continuous firing.
The autofocus works practically across the entire image area, which is not normally the case with SLR cameras. This is a particular advantage for automatic subject tracking. The autofocus is reliable and, given a suitable lens, also fast. In my tests, the brake pad when focussing was always the focus motor of the lens, not the control from the camera.
I would certainly have been able to show even better test images if I had realised early on how to activate subject tracking. At Sony, this is called "AF lock" - a term I would never have dreamed of using to describe subject tracking. Nevertheless, I think the operating concept is good. In particular, the new joystick for moving the fields is very practical.
The Sony A7 III, like the A7 II, has a built-in image stabiliser. With lenses that are also stabilised, the two mechanisms should go hand in hand. That's why I can only switch the stabiliser on and off on the lens in these cases. Strangely enough, I still managed to blur several times, even with short exposure times (1/250 second and 200mm). The reason is unclear to me. Probably a Layer 8 problem.
The battery lasts longer than any other mirrorless camera. This is confirmed by the CIPA value of 710, but also by my feeling when trying it out. Sessions lasting several hours without a spare battery are no problem. Again, I'm only talking about taking photos. The reason for the high endurance is not that the camera is particularly energy-efficient. It simply has a big battery in it.
What I don't like
I have very few criticisms, and all of them relate to the operation. The menu in German is an imposition. These abbreviations! "V/H AF-F. wechs." Or: "TC/UB-Anz.einstlg" Or: "Reg. AF-Feld lö." As the Austrians say so beautifully: No one knows their way around anymore.
The A7 III does have a touchscreen, but it doesn't behave the way you're used to with smartphones and modern cameras. I can neither enlarge the image section with two fingers nor swipe to the next or previous image. Another thing I could criticise about the screen is that it can't be rotated sideways, which would be handy for portrait shots - but when have I ever needed that?
Update: The following point of criticism is no longer applicable. User Keepcoding pointed out to me that this can be changed in the settings (see comment column below).
I find it incomprehensible that the camera does not automatically recognise which memory card slot to select. If I only have a card in slot 2, but the recording is set to slot 1, the camera just whines instead of automatically switching to slot 2. So if I use two cards and the first one is full, I first have to go to the menu to change the tray setting. This means I might miss a crucial moment. And for the display, I then have to go into the menu again separately, because the compartment for the display is not adjusted to the compartment for the recording.
Video tests by Stephanie
For me as a video producer, 4K is of course relevant, which manages without any pixel binning. Nothing works for me without 4K. You only want 4K if you publish your video in HD, but sometimes you need a larger, sometimes a smaller image section: that's when you love 4K.
I'm also looking forward to: the stabilisation, the joystick, new and better batteries and the dual memory card slot. The Rec button is in a different place and I'm certainly not complaining about the faster autofocus either.
The real life test
I'm not a big fan of technical drivel, I want to test under real-life conditions. And since Sony is omnipresent in my life with my Sony a6500 and my Sony A7S II, I need to know how the Sony A7 III performs in relation to my two others.
So without further ado, I shot my latest video portrait of yoga teacher Sabrina Kriesi with the a7 III. Apart from the drone shot with the Dji Mavic Pro, and the yoga class (shot on Sony A7S II), I shot everything with the Sony A7 III.
The images are sharp and if you're familiar with Sony cameras, you'll have no trouble with this one either. In the video, I shot everything handheld and didn't stabilise anything afterwards. Sony has a five-axis stabilisation system and I didn't notice any significant difference to the A7s II.
In terms of handling, it's like the Sony A7S II for me, only heavier. My wrists notice that. Ouch. But I could easily get used to the new Rec button. It's no longer on the side of the body, but is easier to reach on the right under the viewfinder. The button is also easier and softer to press.
After two hours of almost continuous filming, the camera gets too warm. Unlike previous cameras, it indicates this to me with an alarm signal. After switching it off once and switching it on again, it works again as if nothing had happened. Lucky me. I never change the battery. Wow. I've never seen that before. I have two fully charged batteries with me, but only use one for all the recordings. I am impressed.
In addition to the video with Sabrina Kriesi, I also do a rolling shutter test and a night test. The camera passes both tests. In the night test, I put it up against the Sony A7s II, the beast when it comes to dark shots.
The Sony A7S II wins the ISO test, but I think the Sony A7 III does quite well and is more than enough. So you have a camera that takes quite good shots in the dark and one that you can still take photos with.
The input for the rolling shutter test comes from David. However, I don't see any problems. The rolling shutter on the Sony a6500 is worth mentioning, but the Sony A7 III doesn't give me a stomachache. See for yourself:
In short, this camera is to me what the Swiss army knife is to hikers. It has everything I need in a small black box, it has 4K UHD, I can take slow-motion shots with it, it has a fast, no, a very fast autofocus and it also works more than satisfactorily in the dark. From now on, I can insert two SD cards and no longer have to worry that I won't be able to get away with one.
I only use the joystick at the beginning because it's new, but I quickly forget about it because I'm in the flow. I'm working. Playing with the buttons is something I forget about.
My only big criticism is the touchscreen. Better no touchscreen than a wannabe touchscreen. Until I switched it on! I had to go to the menu, then to the settings, i.e. the last menu item. There I had to set touch mode to "on". Then switch on the touch panel/pad, which is in the same menu. Select Touch panel/pad: And then Touch panel +pad. Then you have your touchscreen.
That's a whole odyssey of clicks and ticks that I have to tick to make my touchscreen work even halfway convincingly. Dear Sony, if you're going to make a touchscreen, then make it functional out of the box and don't annoy me by making me edit a thousand menu items before I can use it.
Conclusion: Swiss army knife in Japanese
The fact that Sony calls this camera a "basic model" is probably the understatement of the year. "All-rounder" is a better description. Or as Stephanie puts it: the Swiss army knife in Japanese. She likes the camera so much that she would love to keep it. It will be difficult to take it away from her again. She only takes videos with the A7S II, not photos. It's completely different with the A7 III.
Of course, this camera isn't perfect either, which we particularly noticed with the touch operation. But there really isn't much to complain about.
The predecessor was already designed as an all-rounder. But with the new model, this does not result in any significant losses in one area of application. The cam is just as suitable for sports and action as it is for low light and video. Only professionals who need a particularly high resolution are at the wrong address with the A7 III.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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