Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
| Genre | A7S III | Sony A9 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Travel | -3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
| Spec | A7S III | Sony A9 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,999 | £5,999 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| 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 | ↓ |
| 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 |
See A7S III and Sony A9 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony A9 III against your specific genres — not just specs.