Sony announced today that it was the number one full-frame mirrorless camera and lens brand in 2021, according to NPD (National Purchase Diary Panel Inc.). As the report says, this past year also marks the 8th consecutive year Sony has held the #1 position in full-frame mirrorless cameras. Furthermore, the report states that the Alpha 7 III model is the No. 1 selling full-frame interchangeable lens camera line for the 4th year in a row.
Number one selling: Alpha 7 III
As stated by Sony: “The success of the lineup of full-frame cameras, including the Alpha 7S, Alpha 7R and Alpha 9 series, has been paramount to Sony’s strong sales numbers. These have been complemented by the popularity of the Alpha 7 III, which continued to be the No. 1 selling full-frame interchangeable lens camera line for the 4th year in a row”. This data comes from the NPD (National Purchase Diary Panel Inc.), which is the industry’s retail-reporting and analytics source (Almost all consumer electronics market data comes from NPD).
“The basic model”
For those who need to be reminded, the Sony Alpha 7 III is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera that was announced in February 2018 as the successor to the Sony Alpha 7 II Described by Sony as “The basic model” the camera shares many features with the high-end Sony Alpha 7R III and Alpha 9 models. It owns 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor and offers a maximum video recording capabilities of 4:2:2 8-bit with the help of an external recorder. The camera can record a maximum resolution of 4K30p with HLG and S-Log3 Gammas. That means pretty modest video capabilities which junior filmmakers can start with. However, the math doesn’t lie, as the report shows impressive achievement regarding sales. The current price of the Alpha 7 III is $2,000.
Alpha 7 IV sets sales records
Additionally, Sony states that newer innovations such as the new Alpha 7 IV have started to set early sales records. According to Sony, for the week of December 19-25, 2021, the Alpha 7 IV had the highest single-week sales of any mirrorless interchangeable lens camera line in the last four years. “We are always listening to our customers’ feedback, advancing our innovation and creating the best possible tools for all types of content creators,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “Finding new ways to empower our community is our top priority and we are honored that so many continue to choose Sony to tell their stories and bring their creative visions to life.”
What about lenses?
For lenses, Sony’s full lineup of 65 different E-mount models highlighted by their flagship G Master series continues to drive industry growth. Sony has announced it was the number one mirrorless lens brand in 2021 as well.
Summary
It’s interesting to reveal the Sony Alpha 7 III as one of the best selling mirrorless cameras in the last years. I know many junior filmmakers love it, as it’s pretty affordable, full-frame, extremely reliable, and offers a great quality of video and stills combined. It teaches us the simple and logical conclusion that, for the masses, a camera manufacturer needs to develop a solid reliable product, with the optimal combination between still and video, offered with a reasonable price tag. That’s it!
Product List
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
- Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera
- Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera
- Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera
- Sony a9 II Mirrorless Camera
