Sony A7 III PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Sony Alpha A7 III? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Sony makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the A7 III offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Sony Alpha A7 III below.
In any case, the A7 III is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on February 27th, 2018, which means that, as of today, the camera is 2465 days old (young?). Given that the A7 III is a relatively recent model, it forms part of the current Sony product line-up.
Sony's instruction manual for the A7 III
The camera's instruction manual is 100 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the A7 III is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Sony Alpha A7 III manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Sony's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Sony A7 III manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Sony Alpha A7 III
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your A7 III by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Sony A7 III is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Sony A7 III FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A7 III.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Sony A7 III?
The camera features a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A7 III to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A7 III with the BIONZ X image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A7 III?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A7 III?
Sony mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the A7 III. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the A7 III over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A7 III?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A7 III has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Sony A7 III?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Sony A7 III?
No, the Sony Alpha A7 III has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A7 III?
The A7 III offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A7 III feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A7 III for flash photography?
The A7 III's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Sony A7 III support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s) in its first slot, and UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s) in its second slot.
Which battery does the Sony A7 III use?
The camera gets its power from the Sony NP-FZ100 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Sony A7 III?
Yes, Sony offers the VG-C3EM as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the Sony A7 III?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Sony.
Further reading
How does the A7 III stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 5DS vs Sony A7 III
- Fujifilm X-E2S vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X20 vs Sony A7 III
- Leica Q2 vs Sony A9 II
- Leica SL3 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D200 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D610 vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic FZ82 vs Sony A7 III
- Panasonic GF7 vs Sony A7 III
- Sony A7 III vs Sony A9
- Sony A7 III vs Sony RX100 II
- Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 V
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Sony Alpha A7 III.
Camera Model | Sony A7 III | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
Launch Date | February 2018 | |
Launch Price | USD 1 999 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.6 x 23.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 847 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 42.8 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 6 000 x 4 000 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 5.94 μm | |
Pixel Density | 2.83 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 51 200 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 204 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 96 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 25.0 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.7 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 3730 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2359k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 922k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 10 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | Single UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 3.1 | |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Sony NP-FZ100 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 610 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
127 x 96 x 74 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 650 g (22.9 oz) |
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