Sony Alpha a7R III (no lens included)

Recording Features

Overview: The Sony α7R III (ILCE-7RM3) alpha series camera kit contains the α7R III camera body, along with a rechargeable battery, adjustable neck strap, and USB cable. The α7R III has a full-frame 35mm image sensor, and is compatible with Sony E-mount lenses. With the LA-EA4 Mount Adapter, the camera can also use Sony A-mount lenses.

3" Tiltable LCD Screen: The α7R III uses a 3" Xtra Fine LCD screen with 1,440,000 dots. You can tilt the LCD up approximately 107° for low angle shots or approximately 41° for high angle photography. The touch screen provides a convenient Touch AF function for quick focusing. The Sunny Weather brightness setting utilizes WhiteMagic technology to dramatically increase the display's visibility in bright daylight. The brightness of the LCD monitor can also be adjusted in 5 steps from -2 to +2.

0.5" OLED Electronic Viewfinder: The 0.5" high contrast, Quad-VGA Tru-Finder OLED electronic color viewfinder has 3,686,400 dots, and provides approximately 100% field of view. You can adjust the brightness and color temperature in 5 steps. The built-in diopter lets you adjust the viewfinder image to your individual eyesight. You can set the camera to switch between the LCD screen and viewfinder automatically when you look into the EVF, or choose one or the other in the camera's menu.

Display Options: You can choose how much information appears in the viewfinder and LCD monitor. There are five options each for the LCD screen and Viewfinder: Display All Info, No Display Info, Level, For Viewfinder, and Histogram. The "For Viewfinder" display option shows multiple camera settings at once on the LCD screen that you can use when shooting with the viewfinder.

Live View: The α7R III's Live View lets you use the LCD screen and Electronic Viewfinder to frame your photos as you shoot. When the Live View display is set to "Setting Effect On", the LCD or viewfinder will provide an accurate preview of your photo, including the white balance, exposure compensation, creative style or picture effect. With the "Setting Effect Off", you can check the image composition without the effects of the exposure settings.

SteadyShot Inside: The α7R III is equipped with the world's first 5-axis in-body image stabilization system in a full-frame camera. SteadyShot Inside reduces image blur caused by camera shake from five different directions: vertical, horizontal, pitch, yaw, and roll. This system provides excellent stabilization for both still images and movies.

Image Sensor: The α7R III features a 42.4 MP, full-frame 35mm Exmor R CMOS image sensor (35.9 x 24.0mm). It has approximately 43.6-million total pixels and 42.4-million effective pixels.

Still Image Recording Formats: The α7R III can shoot 35mm full-size image sensor photos, up to 42 megapixels. The camera has an APS-C/Super 35mm feature that can be turned on or off, allowing you to take photos equivalent to those taken with an APS-C size image sensor and movies in Super 35mm-equivalent size. Still images are recorded in JPEG file format in Standard, Fine, and Extra Fine compression rates. You can choose to shoot in 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratio, and in large, medium, and small image sizes. You can also record still images using the RAW format, which is uncompressed with no processing performed in the camera. RAW images must be transferred to a computer for processing, editing, and printing using the downloadable Image Data Converter software. You can select the following image sizes:

Movie Recording Formats: The α7R III can record 4K and Full HD movies in XAVC S (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with 2-channel LPCM audio) or AVCHD Ver. 2.0 format (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with Dolby Digital 2ch audio). You can choose from the following file formats and bit rates:

XAVC S 4K:

XAVC S HD:

AVCHD:

Super 35mm Mode: When shooting movies in the Super 35mm mode, you can produce 4K movies from the full pixel readout with pixel binning. Using 15-megapixel (5K) oversampling (5176 x 2924), Super 35mm 4K movies provide extraordinary depth and detail.

Dual Media Options: The α7R III accepts two types of media: Memory Stick (PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo) and SD, SDHC, and SDXC Memory Cards. SDHC/SDXC (U3) cards are recommended for 4K 100 Mbps and HD 100 Mbps recording. For 4K 60 Mbps, HD 60 Mbps, and HD 50 Mbps, you should use SDHC/SDXC Class 10 or U1 or faster cards, or Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo.

Dual Media Slots: The camera has two slots for recording media. Slot 1 supports SD cards only (including UHS-I and UHS-II), while Slot 2 supports SD cards (UHS-I) and Memory Stick PRO Duo. In the menu, you can prioritize Slot 1 or Slot 2 for recording your images and movies. You can also select a memory card slot as priority for playback. Images can be copied from one card to another. You can choose from these settings for recording images and movies to one or two memory cards:

• Standard: Images are recorded to the memory card in the selected priority slot.
• Simultaneous (still image): Still images are recorded to cards in both slots, while movies are recorded to the selected memory card.
• Simultaneous (movies): Still images are recorded to the card in the selected slot, and movies are recorded to both memory cards.
• Simultaneous (still image/movies): Records still images and movies to both memory cards.
• Sort (RAW/JPEG): RAW images and movies are recorded to the memory card in the selected slot. JPEG images are recorded to the other memory card.
• Sort (JPEG/RAW): JPEG images and movies are recorded to the memory card in the selected slot. RAW images are recorded to the other memory card.
• Sort (Still image/movies): Still images are recorded to the memory card in the slot you select in the menu. Movies are recorded to the other memory card.
• Auto Switch: If the memory card in use becomes full, the camera automatically switches to the other memory card.

4D Focus: Sony's 4D Focus adds another dimension to conventional auto focusing to give you the clearest focus available. Conventional auto focus deals with space alone: a wide AF area (width and height) across the frame, plus depth, rapidly focusing as your subject moves closer or further away. The fourth dimension of 4D Focus is time, as the camera accurately tracks the subject, predicting its next move. The 4D Focus algorithm stays focused on the action without getting distracted by other objects in the frame. The result is clear, crisp action shots every time.

Focus Modes: The α7R III's Fast Hybrid auto focus system utilizes both phase detection (399 points) and contrast detection (425 points) to focus approximately two times faster than the α7RII under dim lighting conditions. You can choose from the following Auto/Manual Focus Modes:

• AF-S (Single-shot AF): The camera focuses and the focus is locked when you press the shutter button halfway down. Recommended for use with motionless subjects.
• AF-A (Automatic AF): Single-shot and Continuous AF are switched according to the movement of the subject. If the subject is motionless, the camera locks the focus. If the subject is in motion, the camera continues to focus.
• AF-C (Continuous AF): The camera continues to focus when you press and hold the shutter button halfway down. Recommended for use when the subject is in motion.
• DMF: After focusing automatically, you can make fine focusing adjustments manually (Direct Manual Focusing).
• Manual Focus: When it is difficult to get the proper focus in auto focus mode, you can adjust the focus manually. This mode allows you to set the distance of a subject by rotating the focusing ring to achieve a sharp focus.

Eye-Start AF: When the Eye-Start AF is turned on, the camera will start auto focusing when you look through the Electronic Viewfinder. This feature lets you focus on your subject more quickly to prevent missing special moments.

AF (Auto focus) Area: You can select between 4 settings:

• Wide: The camera focuses automatically on a subject in all ranges of the image.
• Zone: You can select a zone (consisting of 9 focus areas) on the monitor on which to focus.
• Center: The camera uses the AF area located in the center area exclusively.
• Flexible Spot: You can change the size of and move the focusing area in order to focus on a small subject or narrow area.
• Expand Flexible Spot: If you cannot focus on a single selected point, you can use focus points around the flexible spot as a secondary priority area for focusing.

Eye AF: The new Eye AF function can be assigned to a customizable button. When Eye AF is selected, the camera focuses on a person's eyes for extremely sharp focusing of the face.

Face Detection: The camera can detect human faces, and adjusts the focus, exposure, performs image processing and adjusts flash settings for best results. Faces can be registered, and priority given to those faces over others in the frame. Up to 8 faces can be detected and/or registered.

Focus Lock: If a subject is off-center and outside of the AF area, you can lock the focus of the camera.

AF Illuminator: When you press the shutter button halfway down a red illuminator is emitted until the focus is locked. Under dark lighting conditions or when you shoot a low contrast subject, the AF illuminator allows the camera to focus more easily on the subject.

Drive Modes: The camera offers the following shooting modes:

• Single Shooting: Default setting for standard picture taking.
• Continuous Shooting: You can take photos continuously while the shutter button is held down. In Hi+ shooting mode, up to 76 full-resolution JPEG and compressed RAW images at 10 images per second can be taken. Approximately 28 full resolution, uncompressed RAW images at 10 fps can be recorded. You can also choose to shoot in Hi, Med, or Low continuous mode.
• Self-Timer: You can set the camera to four different self-timers:
  • 10 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 10 seconds later. This is convenient when the photographer wants to appear in a photo.
  • 5 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 5 seconds later. This is convenient when the photographer wants to appear in the photo.
  • 2 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 2 seconds later. This is convenient to reduce camera-shake.
  • Continuous: The camera records 3 or 5 images continuously after a pre-selected delay of 10, 5, or 2 seconds. You can choose the best shot from the shots taken.
• Bracket Shooting: The camera is capable of shooting multiple images, each with a different setting. You can choose from the following Bracket options:
  • Continuous Bracket: Shoot 3 or 5 images, each with different degrees of brightness (0.3EV, 0.5EV, 0.7EV, 1.0EV, 2.0EV or 3.0EV). The images are taken as you press and hold the shutter button.
  • Single Bracket: Same as Continuous Bracket above, except that the shutter button is pressed for each image.
  • WB Bracket: The camera records three images, each with different color tones, according to the selected settings of white balance, color temperature, and color filter. You can select Low (small changes in white balance) or High (large changes in white balance).
  • DRO Bracket: The camera records three images, each with different degree of D-Range Optimizer. You can select Low (small changes in DRO) or High (large changes in DRO).

Shooting Modes: The top-mounted Mode Dial lets you select from the following shooting modes:

• iAuto (Intelligent Auto): This mode allows easy shooting with settings adjusted automatically.
• Program Auto: For shooting with the exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter speed and the aperture value), while allowing you to adjust other settings manually.
• Aperture Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the aperture value manually, letting the camera set the appropriate shutter speed. This mode gives you greater control over the depth of field.
• Shutter Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the shutter speed manually, letting the camera set the appropriate aperture. With a high shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if it is frozen on the image. With a slow shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if it were flowing.
• Manual Exposure: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure (shutter speed and aperture) manually.
• Memory Recall (1, 2, 3): You can register often-used camera settings (including Shooting Mode, Aperture, Shutter speed) in one of three memory positions on the Mode Dial for easy recall.
• Movies: You can record movies in 4K or Full HD in 16:9 aspect ratio. When selected on the Mode Dial, you can select the desired movie settings, including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Exposure.
• S&Q Motion: This mode lets you shoot slow-motion and quick-motion movies.

Picture Effect: In Intelligent Auto or Superior Auto mode, you can select Picture Effect to get one the following effect filters to achieve more impressive and artistic expression: Toy Camera, Pop Color, Posterization, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Color, High Contrast Mono, and Rich-tone Mono.

Creative Style: The Creative Style function lets you select the desired image processing. You can adjust exposure (shutter speed and aperture) as you like with Creative Style. You can choose from: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn Leaves, Black & White, or Sepia. You can also adjust Contrast, Saturation, and Sharpness.

Exposure Compensation: Exposure compensation is used to alter the camera's standard exposure setting. You can make the image look lighter (increased exposure) or darker (decreased exposure) The exposure compensation amount can be set up to +/-3.0 EV in 1/3-step increments by turning the dial on the top of the camera or +/-5.0 EV in 1/3-step or 1/2-step increments in the menu. When shooting movies, the exposure can be adjusted in a range of +/-2.0 EV.

Metering Mode: A 1200-zone evaluative sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy in a wide range of lighting conditions. You can select the method for measuring the brightness of a subject from the following five methods:

• Multi: This method uses the whole screen divided into 1200 zones to measure light.
• Center: While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this method measure the average brightness of the entire screen.
• Spot: This method measure light only in the spot metering circle in the center of the frame.
• Entire Screen Average: Measures the average brightness of the entire screen.
• Highlight: Measures the brightness while emphasizing the highlighted area on the screen.

White Balance: You can adjust the color tones according to the lighting conditions. You can choose from the following WB options: Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White), Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Flash, Underwater Auto, Color Temperature, Color Filter, and Custom.

Color Temperature/Color Filter: You can adjust the white balance further by selecting Color Temperature or Color Filter in the Custom White Balance option. With Color Temperature, the higher the number, the more reddish the image, and the lower the number, the more bluish the image. Color Filter achieves the effect of Color Compensation filters for photography. Based on the set color temperature as the standard, the color can be compensated to Green (G) or Magenta (M).

ISO Settings: ISO is a unit of measurement of sensitivity to light. The larger the number, the higher the sensitivity. The camera's ISO can be set manually or automatically, between 100 and 32,000, depending upon the exposure mode. When the Expanded ISO range is turned on, sensitivity can be set as low as ISO 50, or as high as 102,400. For Movies, the sensitivity is set between ISO 100 and 32,000.

Pixel Shift Multi Shooting: The camera is capable of performing Pixel Shift Multi Shooting to produce images with higher resolution than with regular shooting. The camera shoots four uncompressed RAW images while shifting the image sensor one pixel at a time. The four images are combined on a computer using the downloadable Imaging Edge (Remote/Viewer/Edit) software. You can perform Pixel Shift Multi Shooting when shooting remotely (tethered to your PC), or on the camera itself. Use of a tripod is highly recommended because any camera movement or subject blurring may prevent the RAW images from being correctly combined.

Multi-Interface Shoe: The α7R III does not have a built-in flash, but is equipped with the Multi-Interface Shoe, allowing you to use an external flash, such as the HVL-F20M, HVL-F43M, or HVL-F45RM. The ECM-XYST1M stereo microphone is also compatible.

Flash Features: When an optional external flash is attached, the camera offers several Flash Modes: Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, and Wireless. You can adjust the amount of flash light in a range of -3.0 EV to +3.0 EV with the Flash Compensation feature.

Wi-Fi / Bluetooth

Wireless Overview: The Sony α7R III lets you connect wirelessly with your mobile phone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth (ver. 4.1) or Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz) through the PlayMemories Mobile app.

PlayMemories Mobile: To interface with the Sony α7R III, your smartphone/tablet must have the PlayMemories Mobile application. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and requires iOS 9.3 or later. It is also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets with the Android 4.1 and up operating environment.

Bluetooth: When connected via Bluetooth, the camera can acquire location data from the mobile device and record that data onto the still images and movies. Using the PlayMemories Home application on your personal computer, you can organize and view your images on a map.

NFC/QR Codes: You can easily connect the camera with NFC (Near-Field Communications) to your smartphone or tablets with built-in Wi-Fi and Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app. By touching an NFC-enabled Android smartphone or tablet to the "N" mark on the right side of the camera, the smartphone will be connected automatically. The two devices must touch for approximately 1-2 seconds to make the connection. For non-NFC devices, such as certain iOS devices, you can connect using QR codes. When connected, you can control your camera, transfer files, and share images without having a computer.

Wi-Fi Functions: The following wireless functions can be performed with the α7R III and PlayMemories Mobile:

• Controlling the Camera: You can use a smartphone as a remote controller for the camera. Your device can be used as a shutter release and a viewfinder. You can connect via NFC (Android only), SSID, or QR Codes.
• Send to Smartphone: You can transfer still images to a smartphone for viewing. Images can be transferred in its original image size, or resized to 2M or VGA. RAW images are converted to JPEG format before being transferred.
• Send to Computer: You can transfer images stored on the camera's memory card to a computer connected to a wireless access point or wireless broadband router in order to easily make backup copies.
• View on TV: Images can be viewed on a network-enabled TV. While connected, you can playback images in a slideshow. You can choose from a short or long interval between slides, and select HD or 4K playback. Some BRAVIA TVs have special effects which can be selected for a slideshow.

Play And Print Functions

Playback Screen: You can view your photos back as a single image on the LCD monitor, as an Index or as a Slide Show. During Image Index mode, you can view 9 (3 x 3) or 25 (5 x 5) images at once.

Auto Review: After an image is recorded, you can have the camera automatically display it on the LCD monitor for two, five or 10 seconds. You can also turn off auto review.

Image Rotation: Vertical shots can be rotated automatically so that they are displayed upright during playback. This can be done manually or automatically.

Slide Show: You can automatically play back still images continuously in a slide show. You can set the interval to 1, 3, 5, 10, or 30 seconds.

View Mode: There are five View Modes to choose from for playing back images and movies: Date View, Folder View (Still), AVCHD View, XAVC S HD View, and XAVC S 4K View.

D-Range Optimizer/Auto HDR: The camera allows you to correct the brightness and contrast of an image automatically, using the D-Range Optimizer (DRO) and Auto High Dynamic Range functions. The DRO optimizes the gradations of a recorded image in each area of the image; you select the optimal level from Lv1 (weak) and Lv5 (strong). When Auto HDR is selected, the camera shoots three images with different exposures, then overlays them to create one image with the correct exposure and an overlaid image.

BRAVIA Sync: When connecting the camera to a Sony TV with BRAVIA Sync via HDMI, you can control the camera with the TV's remote control.

Protect Images: You can protect all images on your memory card or select only certain images to be protected from accidental erasure.

Printing Options: The camera offers the following printing options.

• DPOF Compatible: Using the camera, you can specify the images and the number of images to print before you print images at a photo-shop or with your printer.
• Memory Card: You can print images with a Memory Stick or SD card compliant printer.
• Computer: You can copy images to a computer using the available downloadable software and print the images.

Connections

Microphone Jack: The 3.5mm microphone jack lets you connect an external microphone. If the external microphone has plug-in power, the power for the microphone is supplied by the camera through this jack. When an external mic is connected, the built-in microphone is turned off automatically.

Headphone Jack: You can connect headphones to the camera through this stereo 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows you to listen to audio as it's being recorded, or as the movie file is being played back.

HDMI: The camera has a Micro HDMI (Type D) jack for connecting the camera to an HDMI-equipped TV or video recorder. To prevent the HDMI cable from being disconnected accidentally while shooting, you should use the supplied cable protector.

USB-C: The α7R III is equipped with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 USB-C port. SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 enables blazing fast file transfers (up to 5 Gbps), compared to USB 2.0 (480 Mbps maximum). This extra speed is especially useful when you're performing PC-tethered shooting, allowing you to quickly review your images on your PC monitor without having to wait for the images to load.

Multi/Micro USB: The camera also includes a Multi/Micro USB terminal for connecting the camera to Micro USB-compatible devices. A number of optional Sony remote controls use the Multi/Micro USB port. This USB port supports Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).

Flash Sync Terminal: You can connect external flash units to the camera via a sync cable. (Some Sony flash units connect via the Multi Interface Shoe.)

Multi Interface Shoe: The top-mounted Multi Interface Shoe is a single-point connection for multiple Sony accessories, such as flash units, video lights, and microphones.

Battery Information

InfoLithium Battery: The α7R III is powered by the supplied, high-capacity NP-FZ100 InfoLithium battery (7.2V, 2280mAh, 16.4Wh). The battery communicates data to the camera, so that the percentage of battery power remaining can be displayed. The battery life specs are as follows:

Charging: The NP-FZ100 InfoLithium battery requires approximately 150 minutes to reach a full charge in the camera, using the supplied BC-QZ1 battery charger.

Power Save: You can set different time intervals for the camera to switch to Power Save mode. You can set the interval to 10 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or 30 minutes. Once the camera goes into Power Save mode, you can return to the shooting mode by pressing the shutter button halfway.

Vertical Grip: The optional VG-C3AM Vertical Grip holds two NP-FZ100 batteries to essentially double the battery capacity. The vertical grip fastens to the bottom of the α7R III, and offers several controls for use when the camera is in the vertical (portrait orientation) position.

Software

Downloadable Software: The α7R III does not include software in the box. Instead, Sony offers software for Windows- and Mac-compatible computers for importing still images and movies recorded with the camera to your computer. The software is compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 (SP1), as well as Mac OS X v10.11, and macOS 10.12-10.13 operating systems. You can download the software to your computer using the appropriate URL provided in the supplied Instruction Manual. The following downloadable software is compatible with the camera:

• PlayMemories Home: With PlayMemories Home, you can view your images, and use various convenient features to enhance the images you have shot. PlayMemories Home is required for importing XAVC S and AVCHD movies to your computer.
• Imaging Edge: The new Imaging Edge (Remote/Viewer/Edit) software lets you remotely operate the camera from your computer. You can make precise adjustments to the focus and composition, using the grid, guide, and overlay functions, and view images live on the large computer screen. You can also perform confirmation, selection, image-quality adjustment, and RAW development on your computer. It also supports Pixel Shift Multi Shooting.

Capture One Express: You can also use Capture One Express for Sony from Phase One to convert your RAW images to JPEG. This software comes with a 30-day free trial of Capture One Pro, which is available for purchase after the trial. Capture One Express is compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10, as well as Mac OS X 10.11.6, macOS 10.12.6, and macOS 10.13.