When the new and renovated Sony a7iii camera came out in 2018, the reviews really underestimated its performance. Still, team Sony Alpha continues to impress with its high-quality cameras.
The new mirrorless camera was known to be a “basic” camera model. The camera, however, not only holds the same features that the A9 did at a fraction of the price. But, it also turns out to be the perfect camera for videographers in the making.
Are you team Sony alpha? Here is our comprehensive review of the Sony a7iii camera.
How does Sony’s a7iii work for photography?
For photography, the camera is excellent. It has a 24MP sensor that boasts 15 stops of dynamic range and ISO from 100 to 51,200 (expandable to 50-204,800). And it holds the same AF features including 693 phase-detection AF points, covering 93% of the frame as the A9.
The a7iii has 24 MegaPixels, a perfect update from its predecessor, and an amazing dynamic range allowing the user to cover details at a low ISO. Its high ISO capabilities are amazing as well.
And, according to a review written on shot kit’s webpage, “the Sony A7 III actually scored better in low light than its brothers the A7RIII and A7SII over at DxO Mark.”
Now, let’s review the Sony a7iii camera’s videography.
In review, the Sony a7iii camera is perfect for video
Once you get past the complicated menu of the a7iii, you will learn that the camera has great features for videography if you know them well.
Thus, our review of the video side of the Sony a7iii must first begin by explaining key features of the camera.
First, although the camera allows for recording video files in any mode by hitting the record button, you’ll need to switch the dial to movie mode to see an LCD overlay that relates to movie settings.
Then, set the exposure mode to manual exposure. This will allow you to fully control the exposure.
The camera also offers 4 different file formats, allowing you to choose to capture incredible details at XAVC S 4K, XAVC S HD, or AVCHD.
And don’t let its size trick you. It is commonly known that the smaller the machine gets, so do the LCD Screens. But the LCD in the a7iii is set to display 4:3 imagery, and when it switches to movie mode, the LCD changes to 16:9.
More video details of the SONY a7iii camera
Also, with small screen, focusing becomes an issue. However, the a7iii has a focus assistant and peaking feature. This allows for further capturing details on the move and at whatever light you have.
The camera has complete audio settings. It allows removing the visualization by turning the audio level off but keeping the sound on.
And it has complete marker settings that can turn on the 2.35:1 aspect ratio guide, for those who intend on cropping their footage or applying a letterbox in post production.
Finally, there is a wide variety of recording settings that you can set to fit what you are working on. Like all other video cameras, the a7iii allows you to adjust the color profile to accommodate post-production needs.
Under the profile section, you will see ten pre-built profiles that you can adjust:
- PP1: Example setting using [Movie] gamma
- PP2: Example setting using [Still] gamma
- PP3: Example setting of natural color tone using the [ITU709] gamma
- PP4: Example setting of a color tone faithful to the ITU709 standard
- PP5: Example setting using [Cine1] gamma
- PP6: Example setting using [Cine2] gamma
- PP7: Example setting using [S-Log2] gamma
- PP8: Example setting using [S-Log3] gamma and the [S-Gamut3.Cine] under [Color Mode].
- PP9: Example setting using [S-Log3] gamma and the [S-Gamut3] under [Color Mode].
- PP10: Example setting using [HLG2] gamma and the [BT.2020] under [Color Mode].
Team Sony Alpha is changing the world of videography
It comes as a great surprise that a 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 camera can hold so many features.
Not only does the a7iii offer the perfect formats for whatever videos you want to shoot, but it also has Eye AF actions, that will allow you to capture unpredicted movements without micro-adjusting the camera position.
It comes with an additional dual memory card slot, which is always appreciated by working professionals. Also, more than 5 axes for image stabilization and an amazing level of customization.
And it all comes at a price lower than $2,000. There is no better investment.
So are you a member of Team Alpha? Sony’s cameras are only getting better, and the a7iii is no exception. Get to creating.