Sony a7R III Camera Review

The Sony a7R III Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera markets itself as the best DSLR camera for the event photographer – and it’s not hard to see why.

The excellent facial recognition program finds your smiling guests faster than ever before, and the low light feature works charms even when the sun is bidding adieu.

Since it’s a lighter weight with an unobtrusive design, it’s an easy choice to take this camera with you on a long day of work.

While it has many interesting features, we’ve found that the multi-shot feature is a mixed bag between highly innovative and slightly hard to work with under more active circumstances.

Is one feature really enough to discredit a camera? We’ve got the specs on this Sony camera and are ready to share them with you.

Read on and find out if this device can capture your heart along with the perfect picture.

Sony a7R III Camera: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 4 lbs.
• Flash Type: 1/250^th.
• Display Size: 3 inches.
• Display Resolution: 1440 dots.
• Optical Zoom: 78.
• Viewfinder Type: EVF viewfinder.

Accessories

The Sony a7R III Camera doesn’t need much in terms of added accessories to convince potential buyers.

You’ll find all the expected basics in the package, with the battery charger being the most useful item of the bunch. Of course, this is apart from the battery itself, but all in all, you’ll have everything you need for a camera that’s pretty amazing on its own.

Included in the package you will find the following items:

• Battery.
• Battery charger with a power cord.
• A neck strap.
• A USB-C cable.
• Manual.

Features

Hybrid Log Gamma

A hybrid log gamma is one of the most appealing features in this Sony a7R III Camera since it allows you to view your work without fearing it will be compromised forever.

Whether you need to have a quick glance on the old living room TV or you want to do some edits on your new laptop with the latest high-def screen, your pictures will come out in the format best suited to your medium.

At the same time, you can rest easy knowing that the display format in no way will tamper with the saved image itself. This makes it easier to do some work on the go while you leave your more expensive equipment at home.

Facial Recognition

While facial recognition is something we’ve come to expect, a good and fast facial recognition feature is something that is essential to getting the best pictures at a high pace.

The Sony a7R III Camera is geared toward portraits, so you’ll find no problems in capturing a perfect smile.

Even if your subject is looking away from the camera, or partially hidden, this camera will do its best to track the subject and keep a steady focus.

Up To 10fps1

With up to 10fps1, using either a silent or mechanical shutter, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get some nice shots.

The continued autofocus and auto exposure remains accurate, adding to the wide range this camera has.

If you want to continue shooting continuously in live view mode, you’ll find that a slight lag makes the speed drop down to 8fps1.

While this change is to be expected you can still take many varied and beautiful shots without losing quality, and it still scores higher than many other cameras.

Multi-Shot Mode

The multi-shot mode takes four different versions of the same scene and layers them together to get the best color saturation possible.

Thanks to this, you’ll find your colors have a better depth and feel more life-like. With the use of this mode, you’ll spend less time waiting for a picture to emerge from the pixels, and it will end up looking more detailed.

Duel Media Card Slots

Nothing is worse than running out of memory space when the natural light is just right. By the time you’ve switched cards – or worse, had to delete pictures to make room – the light and that one perfect shot could be gone forever.

With dual media card slots, you can dedicate memory space to either shots or videos, switch cards more timely, or even transfer data between cards while they’re still in the camera.

Wi-Fi Compatible

Wi-Fi is to modern life as… well, as life itself when we come down to it. And a camera that can connect to Wi-Fi means less time spent tracking down cables and detangling them from their inevitable noodle nest.

Thanks to the Wi-Fi compatibility, you can connect your camera to a wireless TV with ease – or just to your laptop or phone, depending on your needs. It’s a great way to add a lot of convenience to your camera.

High-Quality Video 

If you’re investing in a camera, why not get one that does double-duty? The Sony a7R III shoots 4K2 and HDR3 video to produce crystal-clear productions for the photographer who also likes to dabble in videography.

With the ability to record full HD at 120 fps up to 100 Mbps, you’ll be able to easily create those dramatic slow-motion moments.

Sony a7R III Review

The Positives

Compact and Light

Weighing in at a little under a pound and a half, this camera has managed to squeeze in quite a lot of tech into a small package.

While some find that the Sony cameras could stand to be bigger, many photographers appreciate the somewhat smaller stature when it comes to traveling with multiple tools.

The light weight is convenient when you know you’ll have a long day ahead of you, or when you want to keep your camera on hand all day when on vacation.

Users who need to carry this with them for long periods of time will enjoy less weight on their hands and necks, resulting in longer and more pleasurable shoots.

Perfectly Portable

Not only does its weight make it the perfect companion for long days shooting, but Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make it even easier for the photographer on the go.

These features allow users to easily send and upload photos to their online storage, email, or social media straight from their camera – no fumbling with a wire and you can leave your heavy laptop behind.

This also allows users to share photos directly to their phone or other devices that can be connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

This is a great backup to have, should your memory cards fail or be filled up, and requires you to carry less equipment with you on your shoots.

Improved Low Light Pictures

When you’re doing an important shoot, every second can count. Luckily, you’ll be able to do more even with limited daylight, thanks to the excellent low light features.

These have received a marked upgrade in comparison to earlier models, making the Sony a7R III Camera one of the better cameras for those late hours when folks start to cuddle up.

This is great for shooting evening and indoor events, where you won’t want to miss a moment even when the lights are low.

Great Battery Life

When you’re traveling to make your shots or are doing high-performance shoots all day long, your battery can really take a punch.

The battery life of this camera is stellar since one battery can take more than a day of intensive use.

If you’re unsure of whether you’ll have access to a charging point during your trip, all you need to do is bring an extra battery – and then you’re set for the weekend or longer.

The Negatives

Multi-Shot Blurring

A downside is that, since the multi-shot pictures compare pixel color among themselves, a moving object like a bird flying across the sky will cause some discoloration in your picture.

While this issue can be resolved manually, it makes for a good focal point in future cameras.

Price

While Sony has a variety of affordable cameras in their product line, the Sony a7R III isn’t exactly a budget option.

It’s also not the most expensive option though, and a camera with such great features packed into one, does mean you get what you pay for.

Those on a budget, or photographers just starting out may be deterred by the price, but considering the performance value, it’s a solid deal for those that can afford it.

Here’s a video showing what the Sony a7R III Camera looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

The Sony a7R III Camera is a device best suited for portrait shooting and, by extension, for event shoots.

The improved low light ability, the automatic facial recognition, and the Wi-Fi compatibility make for a camera that will be well loved by anyone wanting to memorialize their parties. Thanks to the great battery life, you’re sure to capture the entire evening on film.

While the multi-shot function is a great feature, it works best when capturing completely still images. This somewhat detracts from its status as an event camera, but does open up interesting avenues from other types of photography.

This feature is a mixed bag, so it depends on your tastes; will it be a feature that you’ll love or one that will be forgotten while you’re doing merrier things?

All in all, this is a lovely camera that will do great for the event photographer. While there aren’t any real downsides, the multi-shot feature does offer a moment for reflection on whether or not it’s suitable for the more active photographer.

Where to Buy the Sony a7R III Camera

Sony is a brand that’s on top of the market, and has been for years. Many people know their products and photography is just one niche this company excels in.

The Sony a7R III Camera is a popular choice in their line-up, and shows that this brand has been able to keep up with technological changes over the decades.

With a number of cameras and products behind them, Sony is a trusted brand, featured in stores around the globe. Thanks to their success and popularity, you’ll be able to find this camera both in-store and online.

While it’s always best to check tech, department, and photography stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• BH Photo Video (from $1,998)
• Best Buy (from $1,999)

And of course, this camera is also available on Amazon.

That’s a wrap on our Sony a7R III review. Are you tempted to give this camera a ‘shot’?