Sony a7S III with Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Overview

The Sony a7S III and Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II lens kit from Photogear creates a powerhouse kit ideal for versatile, high-quality photo and video work. With a 12.1MP sensor optimized for low-light performance and UHD 4K 120p recording, the a7S III delivers impressive detail and color, especially for video creators. The Sigma 24-70mm’s constant f/2.8 aperture and advanced optical design offer sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and excellent control over color accuracy across a range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits. Together, they’re a robust, weather-sealed combo that suits everything from cinematic videography to event photography and travel.

Sony a7S III Mirrorless Camera 

Optimized video, optimized sensitivity, optimized speed, the Sony a7S III raises the bar for what a full-frame mirrorless camera is capable of. A revised 12.1MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and updated BIONZ XR image processor offer faster performance, improved noise reduction, and a wider dynamic range, along with UHD 4K 120p video recording and internal 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling.

12.1MP Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor and BIONZ XR Processor

A redesigned 12.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor now features a back-illuminated Exmor RS design in order to achieve improved clarity and reduced noise along with the expectedly impressive sensitivity, from ISO 80-102400 with an extended ISO 40-409600 range. The updated sensor design also yields 2x faster readout speeds than previous generations and, when coupled with the revised BIONZ XR image processor, greatly reduces rolling shutter by 3x and up to 8x faster processing and overall camera handling. The sensor and processor combination also helps to achieve a wide dynamic range, of up to approximately 14 stops for stills and 15 stops for video, and 10 fps continuous shooting for up to 1000 uncompressed raw files for stills.
Video Recording

UHD 4K 120p Video, 10-Bit 4:2:2 Internal Recording

UHD 4K recording is possible with frame rates up to 120p, using full 1:1 pixel readout without binning. Internal 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling is also possible in all recording modes and, if recording externally via the full-size HDMI A port, 16-bit raw output is also possible for even greater tonal reproduction and post-production flexibility. Two codecs have also been developed: XAVC HS, which uses HEVC/H.265 encoding to retain more detail at smaller bitrates, and XAVC S-I, which is an intraframe codec for consistent performance and quality at bitrates up to 600 Mb/s.

Recording Flexibility

The high-speed, 120 fps recording enables 4x and 5x slow-motion movie recording with the frame rate playback set to either 30p or 24p or, if moving down to Full HD resolution, an effective 240p frame rate is also available for even greater motion control.
Suiting long-form recording, the a7S III does not have any recording time limits to allow for unlimited clip lengths. The camera's physical design also features an improved heat-dissipating structure to promote longer possible recording times, up to an approximate 60-minute recording time at 4K60p.

Advanced Color Control

S-Cinetone can be used to deliver distinct colors and healthy-looking skin tone rendering that matches the FX9 and FX6 cameras and is based on technology from the professional Cinema Line cameras, such as the VENICE. This color profile offers natural mid-tones, soft colors, and especially well-controlled highlights. Affording extensive customizable color and gamma controls, the you can adjust the gamma, black level, knee, color level, and more. Also, users can use the same S-Log2 Gamma Curve that is found on high end Sony Cinema cameras that squeezes up to 1300% more dynamic range into the video signal then traditional REC709, for increased post-production flexibility.

Autofocus and Image Stabilization

Covering 92% of the image area, a Fast Hybrid AF system incorporates 759 phase-detection points along with 425 contrast-detection areas for quick and precise focusing in a variety of lighting conditions with sensitivity down to -6 EV. This focusing system is available for use in all recording modes, to benefit both video and stills applications. Additionally, it is able to lock onto subjects quickly and can use Real-time Tracking for AI-based tracking on moving subjects or touch tracking for manual selection of the subject. Real-time Eye AF, suitable for both humans and animals, also ensures critical sharpness when shooting portraits. Helping to fine-tune how the focusing system performs, seven-step AF transition speed and five-step AF subject shift sensitivity controls let you refine how quickly focus shifts from point to point and how smoothly focusing shifts occur.

5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization

The a7S III incorporates an enhanced 5.5-stop effective 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization system, which compensates for five different types of camera shake encountered during handheld shooting of stills and video. This allows users to confidently use any lens, even adapted lenses, for critical imaging without encountering blur from camera shake.

For long focal lengths, the system will correct for pitch and yaw adjustments. Macro and high-magnification imagery, on the other hand, will benefit from the inclusion of horizontal and vertical shift compensation. All shooting styles will get usage out of the roll compensation. All 5 axes of stabilization will function at all times, even when used with third-party lenses and adapters or lenses with built-in optical stabilization. Additionally, specifically for video, there is also an Active IS mode that adds even more precise stabilization methods for even smoother footage straight out of camera.

Tru-Finder EVF and Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

An impressive QXGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF features a high 9.44m-dot resolution and 0.9x magnification for exceptionally bright, clear, and detailed eye-level viewing. This viewfinder has a dedicated 120 fps High Quality setting for smooth motion rendering and the finder's physical design has a long 25mm eye point, 41° field of view, and features a fluorine coating on the outermost viewfinder element to benefit cleaning.

A first for a7-series cameras, a side-opening 3.0" 1.44m-dot vari-angle articulating screen benefits working from high and low angles as well as a front-facing position for vlogging or other self-recording needs. This LCD is a touchscreen, too, for intuitive shooting control and menu navigation. Redesigned menu structure is more intuitive and complements having different workflows and settings selections for movie recording and stills shooting. The menu system also works in conjunction with the touchscreen design of the rear LCD.

Versatile and Durable Design

Dual memory card slots both accept either CFexpress Type A or SD-type memory cards. The dual slot design allows for flexible file saving and handling and can be configured to partition file types or can be used for overflow recording. Additionally, both of the card slots are rated to support UHS-II memory cards for faster transfer speeds.

• Magnesium alloy chassis assures rigidity, durability, and stability while remaining lightweight. The lens mount has also been improved to better support heavy lenses, and the grip rigidity has been improved for more comfortable hand-holding.
• Extensive weather-sealing, including enhanced sealing around the battery cover, terminal cover, and chassis joints, has been employed to resist dust and moisture for reliable operation in harsh weather conditions.
• Accepts the high-capacity NP-FZ100 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides approximately 510 shots/80 minutes of recording per charge when using the viewfinder or 600 shots/95 minutes of recording per charge when using the rear LCD.

Ports and Connectivity

• Full-size HDMI A port offers a more reliable connection when working with external recorders.
• A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port has been added, in addition to a micro-USB port, for faster, more reliable tethering support.
• The USB Type-C connection allows the camera to be charged or powered from the host power source while connected.
• Both 3.5mm headphone and external microphone ports facilitate greater control over audio recording.
• Multi Interface Shoe supports working with the optional ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone or XLR-K3M XLR Adapter Kit, which provide improved, clear audio recording sound by sending a digital audio signal to the camera, opposed to an analog signal.
• Built-in Wi-Fi enables the remote camera control and instant sharing of imagery to mobile devices for direct sharing online, and support for both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands also enables wireless tethered shooting support. This connectivity also provides remote camera control
• USB Type-C port can be paired with an optional Ethernet wired LAN adapter to provide 1000BASE-T connectivity, wired remote shooting, or FTP transferring.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II

Featuring improved rendering performance in a shorter and lighter body, Sigma's flagship Sony E-mount 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens deploys an advanced optical design for gains in sharpness, resolution, and portability. Additions like accelerated autofocus, a clickable aperture ring, and a scant, 6.7" minimum focusing distance make this small-footprint follow-up ideal for those seeking versatility without compromising excellence.

Sophisticated Optical Design

• Six "F" Low Dispersion (FLD), two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements, and five aspherical elements markedly reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing throughout the zoom range for improved clarity and color accuracy. Also, increased control over sagittal coma flare yields high resolution across the entire frame.
• In addition to superior optical performance, the five aspherical elements contribute to the lens' compact build with their thin, highly polarized construction.
• The bright, f/2.8 aperture and rounded 11-blade diaphragm produce a large, beautiful bokeh effect.
• Super multilayer and nano porous coatings have been applied to lens elements in order to minimize lens flare and ghosting and contribute to producing contrast-rich and color-neutral imagery, even in backlit conditions.
• The lens was also designed to suppress focus breathing as the angle of view changes across the zoom range, creating natural-looking focus pulls when recording video.

Focus Faster, Focus Closer

• The introduction of a linear motor high-response linear actuator (HLA) to drive the autofocus yields focusing speeds more than three times faster than its predecessor.
• At the wide-angle end of the zoom range, the minimum focusing distance improves to 6.7" with a maximum magnification of 1:2.7 to suit working with close-up subjects or in tight spaces.

Built Strong and Svelte

• Maintaining the same number of lens elements, the overall length has been shortened to 4.8" while the weight has been reduced to 1.6 lb.
• The aperture ring features both click and lock switches for improved handling during use.
• The robust internal structure features metal parts for the zoom extension, while the exterior boasts rubber seals in the mount to protect the lens from dust and moisture.
• Two integrated AF-L buttons can be programmed to adjust various shooting settings and the lens also features a dedicated AF/MF switch and a zoom lock switch to prevent the barrel from accidentally extended.