Sony recently introduced something big that would change the camera industry – the new Sony Alpha a9 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera. What’s so special about the new a9 III? It features a global shutter technology that significantly improves how photos are taken. The a9 III is the world’s first full-frame camera to use a Global Shutter. With a global shutter, all pixels are exposed simultaneously, eliminating the rolling shutter effect and removing the need for a physical shutter. The Sony a9 III can also shoot 120fps raw photos with no blackout and can sync with any flash at any shutter speed. It is only a 24.6MP camera, but the global shutter is the primary and key feature of this full-frame camera. The a9 III is just the beginning, and we may see more DSLR and mirrorless cameras featuring a global shutter next year. See more of its features, specifications, pricing, and release date below.
Sony a9 III World’s First Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with Global Shutter
Sony Electronics has unveiled the Alpha 9 III camera featuring the world’s first full-frame global shutter image sensor. Unlike rolling shutter sensors that capture images sequentially from top to bottom, this innovative sensor exposes and reads all pixels simultaneously. The result is the ability to shoot at burst speeds of up to 120 frames per second with no rolling shutter distortion or camera blackout. The camera also incorporates Sony’s most advanced autofocus system to date, offering AI autofocus with up to 120 times AF/AE focus calculations per second. Moreover, the Alpha 9 III allows flash synchronization at all shooting speeds, providing professional photographers with new creative possibilities to capture decisive moments.
Sony a9 III Key Features:
- 24.6MP Full-Frame Global Shutter Sensor
- Up to 120 fps Cont. Shooting with AF/AE
- Pre-Capture Function; Speed Boost Button
- Flash Sync at up to 1/80,000 Sec.
- 4K 120p 10-bit Video; S-Log3 & S-Cinetone
- 759-Point Phase-Detect AF with Tracking
- 8-Stop 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- 9.44m-Dot EVF with 240 fps Refresh Rate
- 3.2″ 2.1m-Dot 4-Axis Touchscreen LCD
- Dual CFexpress Type A/SD Card Slots
A New Dimension of Still Image Performance Created by the World’s First Global Shutter Image Sensor
The Alpha 9 III is built with a newly developed global shutter full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor with around 24.6 effective megapixels and built-in memory – it’s the world’s first. Paired with the advanced BIONZ XR® image processor, it enables continuous shooting at up to 120 fps with AF/AE tracking without any blackout. The Alpha 9 III is equipped with 8.0 stops of optical 5-axis in-body image stabilization for high-quality images.
The camera boasts high-density focal plane phase-detection AF and a dedicated AI processing unit for Real-time Recognition AF, which can accurately identify various subjects. This combination of speed and precision allows you to capture moments that are typically invisible to the human eye. The AI processing unit also supports movies, providing accurate subject recognition for both photos and videos. Real-time Recognition AF and Real-time Tracking significantly enhance human eye recognition, automatically tracking and focusing on a subject’s eyes.
Unlike conventional mechanical shutter image sensors, this camera offers a maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 second (1/16,000 second during continuous shooting). When using compatible Sony flashes like HVL-F60RM2 and HVL-F46RM (sold separately), you can synchronize the flash at all shutter speeds up to 1/80,000 second. This means you can capture scenes that were challenging to shoot with previous technology. Moreover, when shooting under LED lighting, the Hi Frequency Flicker function minimizes flicker issues by adjusting the shutter speed to match the flicker frequency.
More Features
The Alpha 9 III introduces selectable release lag modes that let you prioritize release lag or viewfinder/monitor display. The Pre-Capture function continuously records up to one second before you release the shutter, ensuring you don’t miss critical moments. The Continuous Shooting Speed Boost function allows you to switch to a preset speed set by the user during shooting. It boasts enhanced burst stamina, thanks to a large buffer memory and increased overall system speed, allowing you to capture approximately 390 Fine JPEG images in one continuous 30 fps burst.
Customizable focus areas now include sizes from XS to XL and the previous S, M, and L options. The Preset Focus/Zoom function lets you save focus and zoom settings for quick recall. You can also select various custom white balance frame sizes as needed, enabling fine-tuning of white balance after composing the image. The Alpha 9 III includes upgraded features like the latest AF algorithms, high AF precision down to low light levels, AF tracking for continuous shooting at F22, and a composite RAW shooting function that combines multiple consecutive images into a high-quality composite.
Advanced Video Performance Without Distortion
The global shutter image sensor ensures distortion-free image quality for videos and photos. It’s perfect for capturing scenes from a fast-moving vehicle or shooting fast-moving subjects. This camera is the first in the Alpha series to record 4K 120p high-frame-rate videos without cropping, preserving the intended angle of view. It also supports high-resolution 4K 60p videos with 6K oversampling.
The Alpha 9 III features S-Cinetone, a unique Sony technology that produces a cinematic look without post-processing. It enhances human skin tones and subjects, creating natural highlights. This camera offers excellent video performance with rich gradation and S-Log3. In Log shooting mode, it allows users to apply their favorite imported LUT (lookup table). The Alpha 9 III is compatible with the “Monitor & Control” mobile app for video creators.
Operability and Reliability for Professionals
Sony has addressed the needs of professional photographers by enhancing the camera’s usability and reliability. The grip is now more ergonomic, making it comfortable to hold even during extended use with telephoto lenses.
Additionally, the VG-C5 vertical grip (available separately) offers the same functionality and versatility when shooting vertically. It ensures a seamless shooting experience with a design that matches the main camera body. The Alpha 9 III features a 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor with touch operation, making menu navigation more intuitive. The electronic viewfinder boasts high visibility, brightness, and a magnification of approximately 0.90x.
Furthermore, a custom button on the camera’s front allows for quick adjustments to the continuous shooting speed, enhancing operational efficiency. These improvements cater to the needs of professional photographers in various shooting environments.
High-Speed Workflow and Scalability to Support Immediate Delivery
The Alpha 9 III introduces some valuable features for professionals, making the entire workflow from shooting to delivery smoother. One such feature is the “Playback Function Menu,” which can be customized in advance. This menu lets users perform tasks like image protection, smartphone transfers, and FTP during image playback. It streamlines the process of selecting and delivering specific images.
The camera also includes a dedicated microphone for voice memos strategically placed near the user’s mouth to capture clear audio even in noisy environments. Recorded audio data can be transferred via FTP along with images. The camera can store up to 20 presets from the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC), facilitating organization.
The Alpha 9 III boasts faster data transfer speeds than its predecessor, which can transfer data up to twice as fast. This is particularly beneficial for news, sports photographers, and studio settings. It supports multiple memory media options, including CFexpress Type A cards, UHS-I, and UHS-II SD cards.
Additionally, it’s compatible with professional mobile applications like “Transfer & Tagging” for expedited image delivery and the “Remote Camera Tool” for PC-based remote shooting via wired LAN. Sony plans to introduce a new version of the Camera Remote SDK in Spring 2024, enabling remote camera operation and adjustment of shooting settings.
Further enhancements, such as FTP functionality, relay playback, and C2PA format support, will be introduced through a camera software update.
Pricing and Availability
The Alpha 9 III camera can be pre-ordered starting from November 8, 2023, through numerous authorized Sony dealers at a suggested retail price of $5,999.99.
Similarly, the VG-C5 vertical grip is also available for pre-order on the same date through Sony’s authorized dealers, with a suggested retail price of $399.99.
Where to buy: (#ad)
Sony a9 III Full-Frame camera order from Amazon here.
Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens order from Amazon here.
