A7S IIIvs Sony A9 III
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the a7s iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S III (2020) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 699g (body, battery, card) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S III | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history