Sony Alpha a7S III illustration
Sony Alpha a7S III illustration

Sony Alpha a7S III: Because Not Everything Resolves Around The Specs

2020-07-23
2 mins read

The anticipated Alpha a7S III is going to be Sonyโ€™s sane answer to todayโ€™s crazy race for maximum specs and resolution. The rumors indicate a solid camera body, average resolution, smart media, high sensitivity (of course), and maybe ProRes RAW capabilities. Read on.

The Sony Alpha a7S III
The Sony Alpha a7S III (illustration)

Sony Alpha a7S III: Not 8K butโ€ฆ

The Sony Alpha a7S III will be launched in less than a week from now. As stated by Sony, the long-awaited Alpha a7S III will โ€œSet new standards for video in a mirrorless camera and filmmakers have been clamoring for the next generation ever sinceโ€. However, rumors sites like sonyalpharumors.com indicate solid specs with some smart features, like the new pre-available media (CFexpress Type A), 4K/60p, 10-bit 4:2:2, a completely new sensor that is capable of high DR (15 stops as claimed by Sony) and relatively low noise when shooting extremely high ISO.

Sonys' announcement about the Alpha a7S III
Sonys’ announcement about the Alpha a7S III

The โ€˜Sโ€™ originally stood for โ€˜sensitivityโ€™ but now I think it should stand for โ€˜supremeโ€™ in terms of image quality, and expression. It comes from having really big pixels. I think that many professionals and high-end users will enjoy the new camera.

Kenji Tanaka, VP, and Senior General Manager of Sony’s Business of Digital Imaging Group

“Everything is newโ€

According to Sony, the a7S II successor will be an entirely new camera, with a lot of new technologies implemented inside it, including the image sensor itself. As stated to Digital Photography Review by Kenji Tanaka, VP, and Senior General Manager of Sony’s Business of Digital Imaging Group:โ€ The Sony a7S III will be a complete redesign of the whole system, including the image sensor. Everything is new. We hope we will meet and exceed the expectations and requests of our customers. Iโ€™m very confident that our new model will meet their demandsโ€. Tanaka adds that โ€œThe โ€˜Sโ€™ originally stood for โ€˜sensitivityโ€™ but now I think it should stand for โ€˜supremeโ€™ in terms of image quality, and expression. It comes from having really big pixels. I think that many professionals and high-end users will enjoy the new cameraโ€.

CFexpress Type A
CFexpress Type A. Credit: cdrinfo.com

Alpha a7S III unconfirmed features

Explore the chart below for the Sony Alpha a7S III unconfirmed specs. Click on the image for full resolution:

Sony Alpha a7S III: General unconfirmed specs
Sony Alpha a7S III: General unconfirmed specs. Based on sonyalpharumors.com

Thoughts

The Sony Alpha a7S III doesnโ€™t aim for those that are eager to shoot ultra-high resolution. For that, you can use Canon EOS R5 that is capable of 8K video recording. On the other hand, youโ€™ll not have any recoding limitation like in the EOS R5 due to the advanced cooling system implemented in the Alpha a7S III. Furthermore, the option for CFexpress Type A cards indicates on keeping the camera in a compact form factor. Moreover, the CFexpress Type A card hints that the a7S III has a relatively low bitrate, which indicates an economical data rate. In my opinion, the main strength of the Alpha a7S III is the new sensor and dynamic range, or in two words: image quality. Also, there are rumors that a ProRes RAW option is being developed via the Atomos recorder. The camera will be formally announced in a week so stay tuned as youโ€™ll keep you posted.

Get the best of filmmaking!

Subscribe to Y.M.Cinema Magazine to get the latest news and insights on cinematography and filmmaking!

YMCinema is a premier online publication dedicated to the intersection of cinema and cutting-edge technology. As a trusted voice in the industry, YMCinema delivers in-depth reporting, expert analysis, and breaking news on professional camera systems, post-production tools, filmmaking innovations, and the evolving landscape of visual storytelling. Recognized by industry professionals, filmmakers, and tech enthusiasts alike, YMCinema stands at the forefront of cinema-tech journalism.

4 Comments

  1. At ISO 50-100 the megapixel equivalent of 35mm is between 8-16 Megapixels. At 12MP there is plenty of data in the file… and there are many many more factors for good image quality than megapixels.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Posts

Get the best of filmmaking!

Subscribe to Y.M.Cinema Magazine to get the latest news and insights on cinematography and filmmaking!

Tenet's director Christopher Nolan and star John David Washington. Credit: Esquire Instagram
Previous Story

Christopher Nolanโ€™s โ€˜Tenetโ€™ Should Be Released When the Pandemic is Over

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K: Sample footage
Next Story

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K Test Footage of Mixed Resolutions

Latest from Discuss

Go toTop

Don't Miss

Sony Begins Mass Shipping Its 105MP Global Shutter Sensor- 10K at 100 FPS

Sony Begins Mass Shipping Its Flagship 105MP Global Shutter Sensor: 10K at 100 FPS

Sony Semiconductor Solutions has confirmed that its flagship IMX927 global shutter image sensor has entered mass shipment. The sensor delivers approximately 105 megapixels…
Canon's $2,499 EOS R6 V Earns Amazon's Choice With Just 19 Reviews

Canon’s $2,499 EOS R6 V Earns Amazon’s Choice With Just 19 Reviews

Canon’s video-focused EOS R6 V has received Amazon’s Choice recognition despite having only 19 customer ratings. Priced at $2,499, the full-frame mirrorless camera…