Sony Unveils Sony a9 III: World’s First Full-Frame Global Shutter Camera
Sony, a leading innovator in the mirrorless camera industry, has announced the Sony a9 III, a groundbreaking advancement in imaging technology. This new camera is the world’s first full-frame interchangeable lens mirrorless camera to incorporate a global shutter image sensor, marking a significant milestone in photography.
The Sony a9 III comes as a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the first Sony Alpha 7, the first Alpha full-frame camera that revolutionized the market. This latest innovation demonstrates Sony’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the mirrorless camera realm.
One of the standout features of the a9 III is its global shutter image sensor, which offers numerous advantages for photographers. Unlike traditional rolling shutters, the global shutter ensures that every pixel on the image sensor is read simultaneously, completely eliminating the rolling shutter effect. This is a game-changer for capturing high-speed action shots and shooting with artificial light sources such as LEDs and fluorescent lights.
The camera boasts blackout-free shooting at an incredible rate of 120 frames per second, allowing photographers to capture every moment with precision and clarity. The real-time recognition autofocus, powered by a dedicated AI processing unit, ensures quick and accurate focusing even in fast-paced shooting scenarios.
With a global sensor, the a9 III offers a new shooting speed of 1/80,000s, enabling photographers to freeze motion like never before. Additionally, the camera allows flash sync at any shutter speed, making it easier to capture stunning images with artificial lighting.
The a9 III features a full-frame stacked 24.6-megapixel CMOS image sensor that supports 120 frames per second shooting with autofocus and automatic exposure tracking. The impressive buffer depth of 1.6 seconds and the ability to shoot 14-bit RAW images at a rate of 6GB/s ensures that photographers never miss a moment.
To complement the high-speed shooting capabilities, the electronic viewfinder (EVF) in the a9 III is designed to provide blackout-free shooting, even at 120fps. The EVF refreshes at 120Hz, ensuring a smooth and seamless shooting experience.
Powering the camera is the Bionz XR processing engine, which delivers eight times more processing power than its predecessor, the a9 Mark II. This enhanced processing capability enables faster autofocus and subject recognition, ensuring that photographers can capture sharp and detailed images.
Sony has also introduced the Pre-Capture feature, which allows photographers to capture moments before fully pressing the shutter. In this mode, the camera continuously records up to a full second of images, so photographers can choose the perfect frame. This feature works at up to 120 frames per second, further expanding the creative possibilities for photographers.
The a9 III maintains Sony’s commitment to exceptional autofocus performance, with a 759-point autofocus system that covers 95.6% of the image sensor. The camera boasts autofocus down to -5 EV and offers additional focusing point options, including extra-small and extra-large, to provide greater flexibility in composition.
In terms of video capabilities, the a9 III supports 6K oversampling for 4K/60p video and 4K/120p movies without any crop. It offers 10-bit 4:2:2 All-I, 16-bit RAW output, S-Cinetone, and S-Log3 for professional-grade video recording. Notably, the a9 III is the first Alpha camera to offer 4K/120p video without a crop, further cementing its position as a versatile tool for both photographers and videographers.
The Sony a9 III features a refined design with an ergonomic front grip and a four-axis multi-angle LCD monitor. The shutter has also been improved for better responsiveness and feel. The camera’s drive mode dial now comes with a lock function for convenient one-hand operation.
To complement the camera, Sony has introduced a redesigned vertical grip that mimics the a9 III’s design and features. The vertical grip offers parallel power, allowing both batteries to be used simultaneously.
In conclusion, the Sony a9 III represents a milestone in imaging technology with its world-first global shutter image sensor. This camera sets a new benchmark for high-speed action photography, offering blackout-free shooting, precise autofocus, and enhanced video capabilities. With its remarkable features and cutting-edge technology, the a9 III solidifies Sony’s position as a leader in the mirrorless camera market.
