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Sony Alpha 9 III - FF camera with global shutter
  • endotoxicendotoxic

    he Alpha 9 III features the world’s first1 full-frame stacked 24.6 MP2 CMOS image sensor with a global shutter system. This newly-developed Exmor RS™ image sensor exposes and reads all pixels simultaneously so the camera can capture fast-moving subjects with absolutely no distortion.

    The Alpha 9 III is defined by speed and accuracy, enabling it to capture decisive moments with ease. It’s capable of shooting continuous bursts at up to 120 fps* with AF/AE tracking, all without viewfinder blackout, and its highly-advanced AI processing unit recognises subjects with astonishingly high precision and reliability.

    *1 Compared to interchangeable-lens digital cameras. As of the November 2023 product announcement. Sony survey. *2 Approximate, effective. *3 Sony test conditions. Maximum continuous frame rate may be lower in some shooting conditions. Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on the lens used in AF-C focus modes. Visit Sony’s support web page for lens compatibility information.

  • 12 Replies sorted by
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Nice. Global shutter.

  • EnoEno

    It's a nice camera, but:

    Although it's capable of 120 stills/sec, its 6K video is capped at 60fps. It should have had the open gate option of 120 fps at full sensor resolution as well IMO.

    It only utilizes CFExpress type A slower cards, inadequate for 120 fps at 24MP RAW.

    The maximum shutter speed in continuous mode is 1/16.000 but for video is capped at 1/8000 max.

    Using a fast lens will limit the max shutter speed which is 1/16,000 instead of 1/80,000.

    Flash sync is capped at 1/500 sec with noncompatible flashes, this translates to third-party ones.

    The minimum ISO is 250, hard to swallow with bright lenses in daylight with all the above limitations.

    The minimum ISO of 250 and maximum auto ISO of 12,800 may have something to say about image quality.

    The 5.999$ asking price is very high IMO, especially for 24 MP with so many * (product segmentation)!

    ...

    On the good side, it's the first Sony E camera that will probably be comfortable to shoot with. It's mind-blowing that it took them 10 years to figure this out! The screen looks proper (hopefully also bright enough in daylight), not like all the previous garbage ones they were using. They've improved the IBIS to 8 stops, and hopefully, it shall be the first IBIS in a Sony camera that won't be deactivated after you take it out of the box. The only good feature about the previous Sony IBIS was that you could turn it OFF! All in all, Sony kind of listens to its customers and this is a good sign. Of course, their goal is to make a nice profit at the end of the day, so product segmentation is here to stay until things get more dire.

    ...

    All in all, a nice camera to have*, but not to pay for!

    ...

    First full-size sample images that I could find on the internet until now: https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_a9_iii_review#sample_images

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @Eno

    I propose industry standards for m43, APS-C and FF cameras, so main board assembled with sensor (that can be also detached) will be standard module. As well as camera OS must be open source, standard for all boards and have apps. OS must support any board that is 10 years old or newer.

    Such way camera body could be made by anyone. Same as tilted screen that has standard detachable connector.

    Because it is time to stop baking various models and trying to upsell them.

  • EnoEno

    @Vitaliy_Kiselev

    I totally agree with what you are proposing!

  • PauloTeixeiraPauloTeixeira

    I was hoping it would cost no more than $4,000 to $4500 but at the same time, other current global shutter CMOS cameras are also very expensive such as the Red Komodo, Komodo X, Z Cam E2 S6G and the new E2 M5G Micro Four Thirds camera. All using a smaller sensor with similar or less Megapixels compared to the A9 III.

    With that said, I do wonder how long would be the recording times on the highest settings.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @PauloTeixeira

    Welcome to capitalism. As making global shutter sensor of same size is no different to rolling shutter one (in any real volume).

    It is good reason that you see huge designer buildings, elite electric cars for all management. They get money from all this by putting lot of noodles on your ears.

  • EnoEno

    Full size sample images including RAW's:

    https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/5079693977/sony-a9-mark-iii-pre-production-sample-gallery/4079473323

    https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_a9_iii_review#sample_images

    Raw files can be edited with RawTherapee 5.9. From what I'm seeing there's more than one full stop more noise at every ISO compared to the previous same size 24 MP rolling shutter sensors, and less DR.

  • mitkoomitkoo

    @Vitaliy

    For global shutter analog memory for every pixel is needed on the sensor chip.

  • endotoxicendotoxic

    https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/products/is/industry/global-shutter.html

    Overview

    Pregius and Pregius S are Sony’s technological trademarks for a group of CMOS sensor global shutters and their peripheral technologies.

    CMOS image sensors with Pregius and Pregius S technology are ideal for imaging inspections in machine vision and the smart industry that require the processing of a large volume of image data at high speed, as they make it possible to capture high-quality, undistorted images at high speeds.

    These products also expand the scope of their applications from factory automation to other industrial imaging and sensing contexts, such as traffic monitoring and infrastructure inspection.

    Features

    Provides undistorted images of moving objects

    Global shutters function enables the capturing of fast-moving objects without distortion. Texts are legible in images

    Faster signal processing with lower noise

    Our proprietary column A/D conversion circuit realizes both faster signal processing and lower noise. Enhancing the high-precision image inspection, it helps to improve on-site productivity in manufacturing

    Realizing both higher definition and smaller size thanks to Pregius S technology The back-illuminated pixel structure adopted in Pregius S global shutter technology has made both higher definition and smaller size a reality, on top of its non-distortion imaging functionality.This new structure has a superior light collection efficiency compared to the conventional front-illuminated structure and, while maintaining the levels of sensitivity and saturation capacity, achieved a reduction of the pixel size down to 2.74 µm square, about 63% of the conventional models.1　 In addition, rearranging the circuit area from the edges to the back of the sensor area has helped to achieve a 1.7-fold increase in resolution for the same optical size and reduce the package size to about 91% of the existing products.1

    As a result, it can achieve a high-definition small-sized machine vision camera compatible with up to approx. 24.45 M effective pixels in a C-mount 1.2-type sensor, allowing more flexibility in its applications to systems and production lines.

  • DeanUKDeanUK

    If you already have a camera that's under 3-4 years old I don't see why you would want to spend $6000 on this camera.

    You'd have to be shooting lots of content where rolling shutter &/or strobing are major issues.

    But on the other hand, I can see why Sony has released this camera. From reading the comments on most camera forums/sites most of the potential buyers for new equipment appear to be collectors and people who want to argue endlessly about specs.

    There are almost zero comments about real-world usability. E.g. realistically, unless you're shooting most of your content in low light, without any lighting. For most modern cameras, how often would having an extra half-stop of DR matter?

    Yet, there are hundreds of thousands of words worth of endless discussion about an extra half-stop of DR.

    About the pricing. I'm guessing Sony knows most of the people who will buy this camera are willing to pay a premium because it's full frame & has a global shutter. And not because they actually need full frame & global shutter.

    So Sony prices accordingly. I don't see a problem with that approach. It's an optional purchase & if someone is willing to overpay for a luxury product, then why not charge them?

  • EnoEno

    The A9III (global shutter) comes with a huge price at lower than APSC (rolling shutter) image quality.

    Source: https://www.dpreview.com/articles/6717086661/sony-a9-iii-global-shutter-comes-with-an-image-quality-cost

    A9III-ISO-and-DR-test.jpg
    1456 x 832 - 971K
  • EnoEno

    More images to illustrate the image quality of the A9III.

    DR test link: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison/fullscreen?attr144_0=sony_a9iii&attr144_1=omsystem_om1&attr144_2=sony_a7iii&attr144_3=nikon_zfc&attr146_0=250_5&attr146_1=200_4&attr146_2=100_4&attr146_3=100_4&attr177_3=efc&attr404_1=1&normalization=compare&widget=900&x=0.2124339701837347&y=0.47796837952552246

    A9III-ISO-and-DR-test.jpg
    2184 x 832 - 1M
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