Sony a9 III: The First Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with a Global Shutter Image Sensor

Updated: Nov 14

A groundbreaking innovation in the world of photography is turning heads among both novices and professionals. The much-awaited Sony a9 III, the first full-frame camera equipped with a global shutter image sensor, has finally been unveiled.

The new Sony A9 III full frame mirrorless camera is equipped with a 24.6MP full-frame global stacked sensor. This sensor, combined with Sony's latest Bionz XR image processor, allows for high-resolution imaging and fast processing speeds necessary for advanced photography and videography features.

This masterstroke from Sony has not only marked the 10th anniversary of Sony's Alpha full-frame interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras but has also set a new benchmark in the imaging industry.

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What’s New in Sony a9 III

The Sony a9 III, the successor to the Sony a9 II, stands out with its unique global shutter image sensor, a feature that is a first in any full-frame camera. This innovation brings several advantages, including the complete elimination of rolling shutter, simultaneous pixel reading, and enhanced shooting speeds.

Global Shutter Image Sensor

The Sony a9 III is the first full-frame camera to use a global shutter system (electronic shutter), which is a major advancement in the photographic world. Unlike a rolling shutter that captures an image by exposing row by row of pixels, leading to potential distortion, a global shutter exposes every pixel at the same time. This results in zero distortion in both stills and video, offering a whole new realm of possibilities for photographers. The global shutter also eliminates the need for a mechanical shutter.

Advanced BIONZ XR Processing Engine

Sony a9 III is powered by the latest image processing engine, BIONZ XR. It provides eight times more processing power than was present in the a9 II, leading to faster, smoother, and more efficient operations.

Improved Ergonomic Design

The Sony a9 III also boasts an improved ergonomic grip design. The new design is aimed at reducing fatigue during long photography sessions, thus enhancing user experience. The camera's body also features a quick-response shutter button and a C5 custom button located on the front of the camera, offering greater ease of operation.

Impressive Specifications

The Sony a9 III offers an array of impressive specifications designed to cater to the needs of professional photographers.

High-Speed Shooting and Autofocus Capabilities

The Sony a9 III offers high-speed, blackout-free continuous shooting up to 120 fps (maximum continuous frame rate) in 14-bit RAW mode, with the buffer depth of around 180 shots. It also features an advanced autofocus system with a dedicated AI processing unit, which recognizes a wide variety of subjects with high precision. This enables users to capture moments that cannot be perceived with the naked eye.

The new C5 custom button on the front of the camera is used for a Continuous Shooting Speed Boost, which boosts the shooting speed to 120 fps when pressed down.

Innovative Flash Sync Capabilities

The Sony a9 III uses a global shutter, which captures the entire image simultaneously, unlike traditional focal-plane shutters that capture the image progressively. This technology is what allows any shutter speed to be used with flash without the constraints of traditional flash sync speeds.

The global shutter provides photographers with unprecedented flexibility in using flash. With the ability to sync flash at any shutter speed, photographers can now explore a broader range of creative lighting techniques without worrying about exceeding the camera's flash sync speed limit.

Photographers can easily balance ambient light with flash at much higher shutter speeds than previously possible. This is particularly useful in bright daylight conditions, where it was challenging to use flash without HSS.

Enhanced Video Performance

The a9 III is Sony's first camera to offer 4K 120p video without a crop. It also supports 4K 60p videos with 6K oversampling. The camera promises 10-bit 4:2:2 All-I, 16-bit RAW output, S-Cinetone and S-Log3, plus dynamic active mode stabilization, allowing photographers to shoot high-resolution videos with ease.

Other Notable Features

The Sony a9 III comes with an ISO range of 250-25600, a 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle LCD screen with a wide color gamut, and touch control. The electronic viewfinder boasts 9.44 million dots, offering high visibility. The camera also supports CFexpress Type A cards and UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards, facilitating fast data transfer.

The Sony a9 III also features a maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000th of a second. Also, Pre-Capture records the moments that occurred before the shutter was released.

To learn about the lens compatibility information for the Sony a9 III, please visit Sony's support web page.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony a9 III will be available in the Spring of 2024, starting at $5,999.

Conclusion

Sony has truly outdone itself with the introduction of the Sony a9 III. This Sony Alpha camera, with its unique global shutter image sensor, advanced processing engine, and a host of other impressive features, promises to revolutionize the world of photography. It is a testament to Sony's commitment to innovation and a beacon for what's to come in the future of imaging technology.