A7 IIIvs FX3
Sony
FX3 (2021)
Starting from £3799 new
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
View FX3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking — FX3 (2021): The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
FX3 (2021)
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Quick take: The a7 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 III (2018) | FX3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £3,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 565g (body, battery, card) | 715g body only (with XLR handle) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 III | FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with A7 III
Camera family history