Alex Phan shared this shutter noise test of the new A9III. It’s obviously an artificial sound as there is no real mechanical shutter. So you can switch it off if you do not like it. But at least it gives you the sense for speed of those crazy 120fps!
Lesnumeriques tried to get some answers from Sony managers on why the A9III has a Base ISO of 250. But they gave none because “There is a huge secret around this sensor “. The French magazine also tried to understand why the Baso ISO is higher than on the A9II:
In terms of sensitivities, the quest for the lowest possible native ISO to satisfy lovers of image perfection has given way to speed. This is why the minimum value is 250 ISO, instead of 64 on some cameras. While the engineers did not agree to answer our questions on this subject, the theory is that the global shutter sensor is more energy intensive than traditional sensors; Additional electronic activity and greater power consumption generate increased electromagnetic noise, limiting the ability to offer low ISOs.
However, we did not notice crazy digital noise, deviant colors and other artifacts. The image quality – especially with the sublime 300mm f/2.8 announced right away – is really very good. But the test will be necessary, particularly in terms of colors and dynamic range, which will be THE main thing to monitor with such a sensor.
After a few photo sessions, we must admit that the level of performance of the Sony machine is quite astonishing.
The camera will start shipping out ion more than three months only…so we still have to wait a long time before we can test a real final production version.
Digitalcameraworld shared a first impression review after testing the A9II:
I am nothing short of gobsmacked, blown away, bowled over and wowed by the Sony A9 III. In terms of sheer technological firepower, there’s no camera on the market that can touch it. And in terms of what it does with that firepower, it stands in a league of its own. There will be some who scoff at the specs. That ask who the hell will ever need a 1/80,000 sec shutter, or what the point of 120fps shooting is. And no doubt, there will be naysayers at the other end of the spectrum, whining about why the resolution is only 24.6MP. To put it kindly, this camera isn’t meant for these people. Because the people this camera is meant for – the crème de la crème, the Reuters photographers, the news agency shooters, the Premier League and NBA regulars, and all those who aspire to be them – know precisely what these specs mean and what they represent. The global shutter era is here, and photography will never be the same again. My one and only misgiving is the AF system. Whether it’s because the camera is pre-production, the AI-based predictive AF needs more dataset training, the firmware on the lens I was using needed updating, whatever the reason – the autofocus at times felt a step slower than that of the A9 II. But then again, I was shooting at a whole lot more than a step faster. Occasional AF wobbles happen, even under ideal circumstances – and the most demanding test cases at ridiculous frame-rates are far less than ideal. For now, I’m happy to say that the Sony A9 III is the most incredible sports camera I’ve ever used. Can it be even better? Yes, it can be. And, with a firmware update, it no doubt will be.
