GAME OVER Canon & Nikon! Sony a9 III vs R3, Z8 & Z9

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Visit our sponsor Adorama at sdp.io/adorama to buy your cameras, lenses & more! Buy the Sony a9 III at SDP.io/a93 for $6,000 Buy the Sony a1 at SDP.io/a1 for $6,500 Buy the Canon R3 at SDP.io/R3 for $5,000 Buy the Nikon Z8 at SDP.io/Z8 for $4,000 Buy the Nikon Z9 at SDP.io/Z9 for $5,500

[@Smarthalayla]

The camera is to expensive. $1000 is the right price.

[@bobsardjono]

the global shutter is great, but can we close down its shutter angle let's say to 90º or 45º?

[@Anon-zl4ne]

FYI, the Nikon Z8 and Z9 do allow to you set a button to change the frames per second, and/or AF mode, and/or exposure settings, etc. So what you said toward the end about the workflow was incorrect. I have programmed a button on my Z8 to instantly go to Animal AF with 3D subject tracking, 20 FPS, 2500 shutter speed, F4, auto ISO and +0.3 exposure.

[@qamstel]

What I learned from this video is that I need a Z8 😂

[@lenzielenski3276]

Then you took the wrong lesson. Skill, knowledge and technique can't be bought. The 'professional' world has gone from photographers to picture takers and button pushers.

[@qamstel]

@@lenzielenski3276 Thank you for the cardboard cutout comment. I can find it in every thread in similar form all over the place. If a pro wants a new camera that doesn't make him/her a button pusher. And honestly a button pusher will not buy a 6k camera.

[@lenzielenski3276]

@@qamstel Being oft repeated doesn't make it any less true. In fact, the reverse is much more likely. And yes, button pushers buy $1000 golf clubs, hyper cars and all kinds of other things they could and will never use to their fullest extent. Teslas are expensive and their auto-drive is a nifty feature. It still doesn't stop them from having accidents. Technology is grand but will never exceed the human mind, AI included. I stand by my statement. I'll toss you a roll of film and let's see what you can do without the gadgets.

[@HR-wd6cw]

People, please don't fall for the bait. The A9 is not necessarily better than the Z8 or Canon's R3. It depends largely on your use case. If you're shooting landscapes, the R3 or Z8 may be a better options (cleaner images potentially at low ISO), but if you're shooting video the A9 may be a better choice due to no rolling shutter effects, and for portrait shooters, no sync speed may open up a world of new possibilities (we can get similar results with HSS and other cameras, but at a "cost"). Just keep in mind that they all have something to offer. The key is to find the camera that works for you and your needs. This would be simply overkill for my needs shooting landscapes (and the res is a bit lower than I'd like for printing). So it's not a good match for my use, but it doesn't mean it's a bad camera or that the other's aren't good. As Scott Kelby said once in a seminar I went to "Don't worry about stuff that doesn't matter" (meaning to your photography). If you don't shoot video, then video specs are pretty much irrelevant and you shouldn't get overly upset over specs and features that don't apply to your work. Worry about what actually matters to YOUR photography and your work. In fact, worry less about gear. You'll feel better and you can go back and focus on what's important in photgraphy -- and it's not gear.

[@harrison00xXx]

Yep, just to add: With higher ISOs R3 and Z8 will be for sure MUCH BETTER than the A9 III

[@trekkeruss]

I don’t see bait, I see it as an option. Sony makes different cameras for different use cases. In your case, for example, they have the A7R series. Whether you buy into that design philosophy is up to you.

[@suresh1957]

Makes perfect sense.

[@tonygerassi1502]

Exactly. Get the system that does what you need and there’s no need to switch because they all have their pros and cons. Sony has GM Primes, still waiting for the 2 year old RF 35 1.4 L. Canon has 20-40 fps fast electronic in their entry bodies, Sony entry is limited to 10. Sony has the A1 that can shoot 20+fps at 50 MP redundant, the canon R5 is limited to 20 fps on the cf express and not redundant. The fastest canon redundant is limited to 24 MP of the R6ii or R3. Canon has every great white you can imagine, Sony has a few. Sony has third party glass, canon has the best most expensive glass. Sony is small and compact, canon is larger in the hand and more comfortable for people with longer fingers. It all depends on your preferences and what you want out of a camera system.

[@jayc9184]

Sorry dude, aliasing and jello. It has to go, there is no Hype.

[@1bozina]

As a Nikon and Fuji shooter I welcome this advancement that Sony will be bringing to market as it will benefit photographers regardless of what "brand" they shoot as the A9III will cause Sony's competitors to compete. Thanks for the video!

[@Chris-13]

For what I do , my Z9 is the perfect camera, if you can’t get the photo you want with the Z9 you should look at training yourself rather than chasing the latest new thing .

[@phelanwolf6747]

@@Chris-13nice for you but your statement is just bragging and pulling down other people. Using your own argument, why do you even have a Z9, with sufficient skill you could do most of the things with a D3400. There is no downside in having the camera brands push each other to our benefit as photographers.

[@1bozina]

@@phelanwolf6747 I agree wholeheartedly with you! My point was that the advancements in any camera brand, whether it's Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji - whatever brand, promotes competition and that is a good thing for all of us as photographers. Over the last year or so the Z9/Z8 brought some advancements to the market and now it's Sony leap-frogging with a new advancement. I'm not sure why Chris-13 felt the need to reply the way he did and you are right, he kind of shot himself in the foot claiming that it would be better to get training than chasing the latest new thing but at the same time was saying he was shooting with one of latest the newest things?!? The technology available to photographers today is awesome and it's obvious that it's only going to keep getting better...

[@ppBizU]

After watching this, the Z8 is getting even more compelling. For sport I rarely need more than JPEG. Processing burst of 120FPS RAWs must be a nightmare. However, I see RAW being more useful for the "artistic sport", where you're really try to expose the portrait aspect - then I believe 120FPS RAW makes sense.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah I was shocked how well the Z8 compares, especially at a 30% discount. The 120 FPS autofocus worked great and I thought 11 MP JPG was fine for sports.

[@amermeleitor]

When I watched the videos about the A9III I was all in hype, but you are right, 120 raw bursts could be more a problem when searching the images, the ISO limitation could be a problem too, and for some people the resolution is maybe too low. And we don't know about the quality of raw files, DR, noise, etc. Even with the A9III in the market the Z8 / Z9 seems like better alternatives in more uses cases.

[@troy5568]

Still, the A9 III captures images and videos WITHOUT any rolling shutter distortions at all. It's something that the Z8 simply cannot do regardless of how fast the sensor readout is on that one.

[@amermeleitor]

@@troy5568 the possible distortions are minimal and 99% of the time non existent, even with fast moving subjects. It's not like a normal sensor, not like even the R3. It would be great if Tony and Chelsea compares the Z9 and the A9III

[@seanmolincreative]

@@troy5568 They touched on this in the video, but even a non-global stacked sensor camera like the Z8 has almost non-existent rolling shutter. You're absolutely right that the A9 III will have *none*, but the Z8 still has *practically none* under 99% of situations. It's splitting hairs on some level, and definitely not worth changing systems or prematurely upgrading for.

[@seanmolincreative]

Well that was certainly a surprise to see my Reddit post and concert photos referenced when referring to the LED banding issue. And now after shooting over 100 acts with the Z8 I can confirm that it's something that isn't often a problem but it does pop up from time to time under certain conditions worse than others, but it's never made it so I couldn't deliver a photo - I've never had a client or casual follower notice or say anything (and even on that Reddit post other photographers wanted to see examples that showed it even more because it was so subtle in these). The problem gets worse the faster the shutter speed. I just shot John Mayer a few weeks ago and he had a HUGE screen behind him and I was able to lower the shutter speed to make it a non-issue. Also, I think a HUGE point that was worth verbalizing when comparing the Z8 to anything else is the price. $4k is really still just the ultimate value in the pro mirrorless workspace right now for what the Z8 offers. Would I love a global shutter? Of course, but I was able to get two Z8s for just 33% more than the one Sony, and I will be thrilled to use them for several years until Nikon certainly has global shutter sensors of their own.

[@krishnastock]

...Till Nikon has the version of the Sony sensor that Sony will sell them! Sony always keeps the best tech for themselves!

[@billgraves2259]

awesome specs - but lets keep it real. Nikon's Z9 was announced 2 yrs ago with pre-capture, everybody was excited about that. It took 2 yrs for Sony to match it. I wonder how long it will take Nikon or Canon to come up with their own global shutter, or high speed flash sync or any of the other stuff. Eventually everybody catches up. I cant imagine what the entry level full frame camera will look like in 2030, but I'm excited to find out.

[@harvey6864]

And Olympus/OM had pre-capture long before that. And it is better than Nikon although with a smaller sensor.

[@PwodYxp]

Z9H is rumored

[@PwodYxp]

@Broskisnowski switching batteries illegal now? You can disable it aswell.

[@thedarkslide]

I've found Matt Granger's comments insightful - I agree with him in that the a9 III is a niche product that comes with limitations yet to be evaluated, like the limited ISO range it offers compared to other cameras.

[@ShizzBeatsmusic]

Great review, from a Z8 user I think cost and performance is still better. This camera is aimed for sport photography for the upcoming Olympic Games. 1/80000 comes with a price tag of 17k using that flash. Z8 has better video specs and a solid camera spec side. Shooting basketball and football with this camera is a blast and I’m sure other sports it’s awesome. They all serve each level of photographer. Sony a9iii at $6000 without good glass. You can get you a Z8 with each of these lens that fits your shooting nikkor 135mm, 70-200, 100-400 or 400mm (F4.5) and be super happy. Waiting for that DR test. But to each it’s own thank you for some Tony&Chelsea for the video….

[@nickcarneyphotography]

Yeah I don't own either camera but clearly this is a sports photographer's camera and good for them, it's a beast, but the Z8 is still the best all-around performer for the price of any camera IMO.

[@thekingofhearts8687]

As a sony a7iv user, the nikon Z8 is such a tempting camera for me. I love the versatility , the design, the grip, the raw files, the video options and the tele lenses so much.

[@stevelink3]

I agree! The new Nikkor 180-600 f/5.6-6.3 telephoto zoom is a fantastic lens for the money! Works flawlessly on a Z8...My only gripe with ANY Nikkor telephoto lens is that they do not come with an Arca-Swiss compatible tripod collar/foot! Why they do this is beyond me. However, I got a $40 Promaster QR plate that IS Arca-Swiss compatible, and it works just fine on the tripod collar foot of the 180-600.

[@thekingofhearts8687]

@@stevelink3 also the pf prime lenses are fantastic.... Extremely light and portable and produce fantastic results!

[@scotthayesproductions5715]

Nikon is offering killer trade in deals right now on the Z8, it's worth dumping your sony kit. Video is incredible. WAY sharper than anything Sony currently has.

[@thekingofhearts8687]

@@scotthayesproductions5715 As much as I would love to, its hard to justify the cost as I am a hobbyist and do not earn from photography and I am too heavily invested in the e mount.

[@andersistbesser]

The nikons price is crazy good for what it kan do and the video specs blow me away.

[@unknownKnownunknowns]

Editing 120 frames a second is my worst nightmare!

[@aliendroneservices6621]

AI is your friend here. Also, as a rule, sports photos aren't edited. Just dump them to the magazine editor who hired you.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

It wasn't as bad as I thought. The import takes FOREVER but culling using thumbnails was pretty quick once LR processed the previews.

[@colinbradbury2334]

@@aliendroneservices6621 "Sports photos aren't edited"? Only if you're shooting tethered for a big agency and the images go direct to an in-house editor. But no way would a newspaper or magazine accept a dump of thousands of images from a match with no culling or editing.

[@thehyperspeed]

Im just interested on the vlogging it self. This using pocket 3 right?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah. I thought it worked really well.

[@sneakergearz]

You kept notating the A9 shooting 4k/240, just confirming that was a mistake? Did you find the dynamic range worse than the A1 or Z8/9 or about the same in just your use?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah sorry it's a mistake, it's 4k/120. We have to wait for raw processing to test dynamic range.

[@Travelagent]

GAME OVER Canon & Nikon!? This is a way too gonzo headline! This new camera may/will be great for (professional) sports (or maybe wildlife) photographers but otherwise....? I think the rest is more or less just a mere marketing hype and the "event" just happended at this time just because Sony wanted to be more or less the first to offer a global shutter in consumer cameras! And even if Sonys claims the A9 III is "weatherproofed" I am quite sure it will not be on par with the weatherprotection implemented in Nikon cameras (the same applies for their lenses, too!)!

[@EmilWall]

The noise that the R3 is doing at around 10:47 after pressing the shutter button is so cute! It’s like ”yes master I do my best” and then immediately fainting with the text ”BUSY” displayed at the back

[@typhoon-7]

Think of every outstanding photo you've seen of a bird in flight, a frog in mid leap or an athlete frozen in the moment or triumph, all pin sharp and beautifully exposed.... Not one of those was taken with a global shutter sensor. It's very clever but you don't need it to take good photos so the game is very much not over. As always; you need a good photographer with some good glass. Those are the key ingredients. The best wildlife photo I've seen was a sea eagle caught exactly as it grabbed a fish from a crystal clear river. Perfectly captured, razor sharp. It was taken by a Nikon D700 with a 10 year old Nikkor lens.

[@OkwyUgonweze]

Why are you guys always economical with critical truth ? Tell people that the A9iii can only sync up to 16000th sec for lenses at 1.2 -1.4 apertures . In other words the competition is still better for when you need to shoot wide open and need to absolutely kill the ambience light .

[@alphajam1]

It's never over. It's a subscription. Camera bodies change like I do socks, well almost. Lenses are the most important part of the camera.

[@morpheus3190]

I’ll just make do with my z7II.. lol. Great specs and global shutter is great, but I’ll wait for it to migrate down to less expensive cameras. Not willing to give up 45 mp for 24mp for my needs. Don’t really do sports and z7II is ok for wildlife. 120 frames per second would make me spend more hours than I already do sorting through pics. A9iii is great for high level pros, but not for most amateurs.

[@RonClifford]

So sick of the hype. I takes pictures. It doesn’t do anything for me as a hybrid video and photo shooter who almost never uses flash or shutter speeds above 1/2500. I’ll stick to my Nikons thanks

[@innercynic2784]

It definitely ups the game but it's far from over. First and foremost is the ridiculous price tag. That alone will keep the majority of users away. When it finally trickles down to us mere mortals the competition will have had time to study it and do likewise. This is no different than in the audio realm where 32bit float is entering the arena more and more but even then it hasn't completely captured the market because the software to process it hasn't caught up. It's getting there. And even then it isn't necessary to have it to make great audio. Same can be said for photography or video. It's getting there.

[@alphajam1]

The question on flicker and banding: since there maybe some instances of banding, flicker will be there also in led lights. In order for the camera to eliminate flicker it will automatically slow the shutter down, even with the a9iii. You can do this yourself with a some test shots. I found most lights, I can eliminate banding at 1/800th and below and use in camera flicker reduction. This is more than adequate for concert lighting and stopping action. I never ran into banding in sports stadiums and arenas. The global shutter is great for speedlights out doors, though using 800ws strobes there isn't a need for high speeds that I ran into. So I would rather have a 45 megapixel camera and dynamic range, a camera that can do all of what I need, and a cheaper backup camera. I had no issues with the z8 or the z9 in regards to rolling shutter.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah correct you just need longer shutter speeds to remove banding. For me, in concerts, I almost always try to show some motion so I'm below 1/60 and it's never a problem. And of course I established that it's not really a common problem in sports.

[@alphajam1]

I usually get rid of banding at 1/800th sec and below doing dance comps with led lights. I do have examples and sample photos, 1/640th 1/800th of a second will cover all of the jumps. And I'm not sure why you need high shutters for concerts. @@TonyAndChelsea

[@GrantSR]

I love how y'all actually do the math and make the tough comparisons. Even though I still feel no need to give up my A7R2.

[@Mr09260]

Far better too keep your far more Practical A7R2 which is a great Sony camera

[@shawnbailey7013]

Game over Canon... Until the new series of cameras come out and then it will be... Game over Sony! Nothing new. Shoot what you want... there are always better things being released.

[@robbieadams9837]

This is fantastic news for ALL camera users. This will push Nikon, Canon and the rest to follow. Competition is key. Great video guys! 👍🏾 Great comparison 👌🏾

[@johnbunani1341]

10:53 correction: the R3 allows for full raw capture in the 195fps mode, not just jpg only. The z9/z8 are jpg only in the high fps modes

[@TonyAndChelsea]

ah my mistake.

[@johnforbes4795]

Interesting technology, but not a game changer for me and my use-case. In 2021 I traded my Nikon Z6ii for a Z7ii because I was unhappy with the 24MP and wanted the higher resolution of the Z7ii to pair with my Nikon D850. Since then I've traded the Z7ii and D850 for a Z9 and Z8 because I wanted the 20fps and very good autofocus to go along with the 45.7MP sensors. I love the improved 20 fps of the Z8 and Z9 versus my 9fps using the D850 with the Nikon battery grip attached. I actually dial it down to 15fps because it gets the movement moment I want (primarily dog movement in conformation dog shows). Two weeks ago I shot over 14,000 frames in two days. If I actually used 20 fps (RAW) versus the 15fps, I would theoretically shoot 33 percent more FPS and 33 % more post-processing time and another 31 GB in photo-file data to my computer. If I was shooting at 30fps RAW that's taking the post-processing from about 40 hours to 80 hours and double the data. If I were just shooting a photo of the occasional bird, or other wildlife, then I could up the fps and pay for the post-processing piper without too much angst. But even then, I would not be happy with 24MP photos. Speaking of being theoretical; if I depressed the shutter for the same span of time with the A9III that I do with the Z8/Z9, I would be creating 112,000 frames or 420 GB of file data @ 120fps with a 24MP sensor creating a RAW file of 30mb versus about 58mb of the Z8/Z9. and their 62 GB in file data. Crazy...not to speak of the significant post-processing in just culling through photos. So, like I said, interesting technology, but it's not a game changer for me.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

One question I have is the magic C5 button to take it to 120fps. What is the process? Is it a one touch toggle or is it a tap to go from 10 to 30, tap twice to go from 30 to 60, etc. or do you have to press and hold the C5 + the shutter? Or do you use the C5 instead of the shutter? This isn’t clear. Please advise. Thanks

[@TonyAndChelsea]

It's 120 as long as you hold it in. It's a little hard to hit so I would reprogram it to the AF-On button.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

@@TonyAndChelsea so you have to hold the c5 AND the shutter? A two buttons at the same time sequence?

[@lenzielenski3276]

Amazing. Dependence on technology instead of timing or technique continues to erode the skills of photographers. I remember when photographers were actually inventive and overcame such problems as sync speed and stop motion through planning and skill. Now anyone that can afford the latest gear can press a button and call themselves a photographer. Its the difference between being a marksman or sniper and a madman with a shotgun or machine gun. Spray and pray. I'd love to take away the current generation's toys, hand them a camera and roll of film and see what kind of results they can come up with.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

The A9 is, probably, the camera from the future, but I would love to see dynamic range tests, including shadow recovery in low light and highlights recovery. It seems to me that the Sony does not record raw video but I am not sure. Unless the sensor has some inherent flaw this camera is a revolution. If dynamic range suffers to much then one will need to ask if it will be better to just have a stack sensor that reads 3 times faster than the Nikon and get the best of both worlds.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

No mention of raw video. We'll do image quality tests as soon as we can!

[@djepodjepo]

Does the new firmware update for a1/a7siii include animal auto focus for video?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Sadly no. It was really disappointing.

[@djepodjepo]

@@TonyAndChelsea bummer.

[@alanm.6096]

Meanwhile, the experienced professionals are filtering out all the noise, using their 'older' DSLR's and creating fantastic images.

[@sturm3n]

Yours is the first coverage I've seen that says the a9 III does 4K 240 fps. Is that an S&Q mode? Is it in 4:2:2 10-bit?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

I think that's an error, sorry about that. I'll double-check.

[@UCVolley]

I bought a Sony A9 specifically for shooting my son's volleyball games. I'm really glad I did: picking out the perfect contact moment from a 20fps burst is highly likely. With my 5fps A6500 was more likely a miss. 120fps: it's guaranteed. I took around 30,000 shots; five are timeless and totally justify the investment. If my son were playing this year, I think I'd have to risk annoying the wife to pay the $$$$$ for the A9III.

[@UCVolley]

So, volleyball shooters: pay for the FPS! It makes a difference. I have one shot that illustrates this very well. I had placed a poster on the gym wall of my son in mid swing. I didn't plan it but got that in the background of one of his approaches. I was able to select the shot in which his arms were perfectly mirroring the background shot. search dash on the ucvolley site - third shot down.

[@carlwang6865]

Cfexpress type A what a joke

[@thelensguy6050]

Extended iso on the lower end is really that bad that no one even considers it? Like it's not even existing.

[@kevinrtres]

Thanks for the video - I just think the title is overdramatic. Game is nowhere near over yet - competition is gooooooooood!!! Long live CaNikon....

[@RakavyYuval]

What is exciting is that now it is obvious what the A1-II is going to be. In essence the A1 was a high-resolution version of the A9-II, so it highly likely that the A1-II will be a high-resolution version of the A9-III, a 50Mp (at least) camera with global shutter. That is the camera I will wait for! I understand that there are already rumors that Sony is going to release yet another high-end camera shortly, so I don't think we will have to wait too long for A1-II. It also makes sense that the two sensors were developed in parallel.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Wow what do you think the a1 II will cost if this is $6k?? Gotta be at least $9k!

[@colbewells1487]

Was this shot on the DJI pocket 3?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah

[@ryanbrown1789]

It’s got cool tech but the hype seems a bit overkill. All it’s ground breaking features are extremely limited and some just don’t make sense. Also don’t forget it cost $2,000 MORE then the Z8.

[@BikeStuffPDX]

What are you using for the walking shots?

[@TheArtist441]

Daaayyyymmnnn, Sony just blew my mind here. Not exactly the model I'm looking for - I still really love my A7RIII, but the innovation here is really impressive! Now that they've done global shutter, maybe we could get it in the A7R line up at some point? That would be sweet! Great job on brining us the info Tony & Chelsea!!

[@middletonduff]

The global shutter is a look to the future. But 6K for a 24mp camera? That’s a lot of money for a global shutter. ISO lowest is 250 on A9III, the Z9 is 64 and the colo(u)rs coming out of the Nikon still blow anything else out the window. Comparing a 49MP camera to a 24 MP camera isn’t a fair comparison

[@alecaguilara]

Feels like I'm going to be sticking to my a1 for awhile. (Things I'd like to see on a new a1- version 2). That new multi tilt screen, precapture, 4k 240, a better back display, keep the 50 megapixles, don't need more than 30 fps, 8 stop ibs

[@NicolasAlexanderOtto]

I loved that nerdy intermission. Thats the kind of stuff I love your channel for. That said I am a landscape photographer, so I would never need an A9III anyway, but still interesting piece of gear!

[@alvinblackwell268]

Game over 😄😁😆😅🤣😂 with a base ISO of 250 😮 I don't think so 🤔 and I will put money on it that the R1 and the R5 Mk2 will have a lot to say about that ... and don't forget about new RF lenses Canon is dropping 💯‼️

[@southbridgeforestHOA]

Z8 has the best price to performance ratio IMHO!

[@Mr09260]

LOL Tiny Buffer , Lousy Ergonomics , CF Express A Cards (Shame) , $ 6000 vs Z9 $5500, ,, Tiny Niche Market .. Z9/Z8 also dont have Mechanical Shutter and were the first to do so , Honestly I wouldnt pay $10 for this

[@bibi-f8f]

Sony a9 mk3 is a bad camera. A1 is better for reporting. The a9 has very few megapixels, and there is a lot of ISO noise. 2 years have passed and Sony has repeated for Nikon the functionality that Nikon Z9 had already 2 years ago

[@CharlesBorowicz1]

Thank you for this. The comparisons really help put everything in perspective

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Thanks. It was definitely more work to shoot with 4 cameras, and it meant this took longer for us to publish, but I think it's really valuable to see how it compares to competition.

[@HomyarMistry-HomzPrints]

Can u tell us more about freezing a file from video footage shot on A9. Is the file quality usuable as pro photo...

[@atrix19851185]

I would like to see a similar test with the A9-III to the one you referenced with the Hasselblad leaf shutter. I would like to see if the A9-III's ability to shift the flash timing will allow it to be pushed to even faster shutter speeds and still sync than the Hasselblad was able to. I doubt it will be possible to push it all the way to 1/80,000sec for the reasons you noted in this video but I would be curious to see how far it can be pushed.

[@JohnSwen-p6b]

The use of a global shutter definitely eliminates any rolling shutter issues. However, I think there is a price one will be paying in terms of iso range. From Sony's own specifications the A9II has an ISO range from 100-51200 and the A9III has an ISO range from 250-25600. I see the A9 being a very specialized camera, but not a great all-around camera like the A1, Z9/Z8 and upcoming Canon releases in 2024. For me I will wait for GS that also has a class-leading ISO range.

[@evenhandedcommentor6102]

You know, Sony is the sensor tech leader. So, if it was easy to get ISO at 100, I'm guessing they would have done so. And if it was easy to get more than 24 mp, they would have done so. Maybe not go to 50 like the A1, but higher than 24. Yes, it is a specialized camera...not a general use camera. But I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a 50 mp camera with global shutter and ISO base of 100 coming out anytime soon. I'll guess that is years away.

[@albedo0point39]

You often use lower iso because you’ve hit your maximum shutter speed or max flash sync speed for your chosen aperture and you need to lower exposure. These things aren’t a problem on this camera.

[@youmysterious]

@@albedo0point39 Exactly.

[@eric00214]

You know that Nikons Z9 sensor is so fast that it eliminated rolling shutter right? So much so they didn't even add a physical shutter. Let me know when they make a global shutter that's 45mp+ at 20-30fps with a base ISO of 64. The A9 III is a nice start for sure, but it can't compete with wildlife bodies like the Z9, or A1 yet. The A9 II is a sports body, very limited for wildlife shooters.

[@albedo0point39]

@@eric00214 Z9 has rolling shutter. The readout is faster than previous generations, but it’s still a sequential readout. Sony’s global shutter is a different thing again.

[@ChuckAinsworth]

Can you please compare the new a9 to the a7siii. Looking for guidance in choosing the best Sony for low light video for wildlife and some action photos in low light.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah that would be an interesting comparison!

[@keepingtherubberdown5715]

For the auto focus are you using the tracking auto focus or just set to wide box?

[@TheMarcaf25r]

How much light is going to come through the lens at a shutterspeed of 1/80000 of a sec.? Will that be usable at ISO 100 with a f2,8 lens for example?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

I personally have never needed anything over 1/8,000, even with a fast lens in sunlight. You'd need some big continuous lights to really take advantage of that, or you'd have to be using that one specific Profoto P-11 strobe system at it's minimum power output. Still, it's cool that it's possible, in the same way that it's cool a Bugatti can drive 200 MPH... but you probably won't use it.

[@unknownKnownunknowns]

No, because minimum iso is 250 on this camera

[@kpluk84]

So when you google what camera to buy you read any camera is good. Get the right lens. But the last 5 years it seems to be more about the camera. And there is a big problem with that. Why you might ask. Well simple, if you cannot make good photos or videos with any modern camera including the last generations of dslr cameras you are doing something wrong yourself. All these technical things help yes, but you also don't start driving in the newest car you start with great results in a cheap car. Buy the camera with the nicest sensor color wise for you and where you can buy the lenses you want for the price you can afford. Tbh I think nikon is way ahead on that compared to canon and a little less to Sony.

[@drbeardo6960]

If I shoot Olympics: A9iii Otherwise: R3 n Z8-9 Global shutter: gives speed but with some drop in IQ n DR That speed is overkill for almost every one even for some Olympic scenarios R, Z8-9 are better (low light)

[@SeddersShots]

Game over? You sure? I checked and it seems my R5s are still taking great pictures, Maybe I shouldn’t dump a $30k system that I love because of a new piece of tech that, while cool, means almost nothing outside of very specific situations?

[@cy9nvs]

GAME OVER! Jesus... yeah, I'm sure they're already filing for bankruptcy. Except for the R3, I'd argue those cameras aren't even competitors to the a9 III, considering the higher resolution, and considering the cost/resolution trade-off, I'd also argue that both the Z9 and Z8 remain very competitive.

[@andresgonzalezcerda7635]

Not the first, but best review so far.

[@Digmen1]

I wish Nikon would put that type of flippy screens on all of their cameras Its not as if its bleeding edge tech.

[@GastonShutters]

Nice comparison as always. But any 24MP full frame camera is no match for a 24MP with global shutter. Excited for the future of the whole Sony line up. Next an APSC with Global shutter could be in the horizon. That could be the ultimate wildlife camera

[@aliendroneservices6621]

Global-shutter will never be featured on any wildlife camera.

[@troy5568]

That's why you get two bodies for best versatility in everything: A9 III for fast-moving subjects, and A1 for everything else.

[@izziereal2010]

On a different subject, will you cover the Nikon ZF? I would not mention it in a video for a Sony camera, but it's been almost two months since its announcement and there's no mention of the ZF. Thanks.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah we pre-ordered one on day 1 and it still hasn't arrived!

[@izziereal2010]

@@TonyAndChelsea Thank you for the reply.

[@dominiqueschenck430]

Hmmmm let’s see what the market says. Reading through the comments, it seems that the benefits are narrow and specialised, although they are real and can lead to deep changes in the way cameras are built in the future. In reality Sony has not dethroned canon from sports dominance - and this is a problem for Sony. Anyhow, yesterday high megapixels, today global shutter. Tomorrow, what else will be pushed on us without really getting back to what it means everyday? Thanks for the third video on Sony this week. Can we move to something else now?

[@johnrpittenger]

Wow thanks for the explanation on using a flash. That makes me not want to switch cameras.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Glad it was helpful! It's really complex so I'm glad my explanation made sense.

[@martyd5819]

Agree with Matt Granger. This is a niche camera.

[@Hkmmotologs]

Any New improvement on any technology by any brand is a welcome move but Saying it's Game Over is a bit of a stretch IMO. Global shutter is the needed improvement in Digital photography and videography . Global shutter isn't new but it was flawed because early Global shutter was only possible with CCD sensor due to fabrication limitations I believe and CCD is known for it's terrible Dynamic range and colour reproduction so professional cameras stayed with CMOS technology. There was a Blackmagic 2K cinema camera with CCD global shutter but DR was terrible and Image quality was just OK. It all changed when Stacked CMOS sensor technology was introduced. I believe RED released the first stacked CMOS global shutter sensor consumer camera with the Komodo 6K but it was only Super 35 and with Sony, the first Full frame Global shutter camera. Canon has a smaller stacked CMOS global shutter sensor with an insane DR ability currently being used in their high end high speed security/surveillance camera systems which is more of a commercial only product. So we can expect a global shutter camera from Canon obviously and as always Canon takes their time, sometimes too long than we would like but It's going to happen. and Nikon use Sony sensor and sooner or later you can see this sensor in future Nikon Z9 series cameras.

[@rudolfappel7236]

Great and honest review, good job in translating the tech details in simple English.

[@TomatenDK]

I got the a7iv 6 months ago and would like faster fps than 10 fps for birds. Im still an (experienced) amateur. Im VERY worried about the 250 iso and the 24 mp :( I feel like if I want to upgrade my a7iv, then the A1 is the only one better for me ? And if so - no way im buying that old camera at this point, with potential new and better models coming soon.

[@williamcurwen7428]

Hats off to Sony for inventing something I will never use. Or more succinctly, a solution for a problem for something yet to exist. I jest, a young pro with nimble fingers I am not. Well done Sony!

[@medemit-www.medicinadurgen9898]

Does the sensor have the protection or not? Anti-Dust Function/Shutter When Power Off

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yes but off by default

[@lcador9]

Excellent assessment. The Nikon Z8 appears to be the much more versatile all around camera which is supported by a much more diverse telephoto lineup and at a price of $4000 rather than $6000. The global shutter provides little meaningful performance advantage to the vast majority of photographers. I sure would not give up my A1 for the A9 lll.

[@jimmiemahathey7209]

Okay I have been shooting with a Nikon D7500 cropped sensor camera. I am wanting to move in to a full frame camera now and have had my eye on the Nikon D 850 for some time now. But now just maybe considering a Mirrorless camera such as the Nikon Z 8. either way I will need to build a lens inventory I like the DSLR and I feel confident with them. I also understand the industry is moving to Mirrorless and soon there may not be the support for DSLR systems. What do you two suggest please give me some advise in this move to full frame. Thanks Jim

[@markguerin6071]

Love the new "KZbinr Capture" feature of the Sony A9....

[@vangerz3746]

Interesting to see Sonys Global Shutter VS Nikons StackSensor image quality in rolling shutter.

[@SamW604]

Questions for future A93 reviews: (1) Is there any real world improvement in the A93's image stabilization when shooting video?; (2) Can the A93's front FPS button be set to other FPS numbers besides 120 or is it fixed at 120 FPS? Thanks.

[@evenhandedcommentor6102]

The c5 button can be set to slower speeds than 120fps.

[@johnclay7644]

informative video on sony a9 III and Z8 / z9

[@spolen23]

I am going on Safari in June and also going to see gorillas in Rwanda. Was hoping the R5 mk II was going to be out. Should I go R3 or would you recommend something else? a9 III?? Please help!!!

[@jason-740]

Nikon Z8, no question. The R3 mk II will cost more, even if it’s out before then.

[@xmeda]

Fast frame rate also needs deep buffer. This camera can record about 1.5s which is not much. Maybe next time. Usable buffers start around 3-4s and ideally it will cover at least 10s of continuous shooting. And of course we can shoot with much less FPS and get more seconds in buffer, but then the peak performance is kinda lost. But such sensor in future will be good for mult shots combined into one photo with reduced noise and increased dynamic range. Imagine you are going to take one 1/1000s picture, but camera does 4-5 subframes instead + noise pattern frame and then recalculates whole image as stack. It will result into really high ISO shots without noticeable noise and probably around 20EV dynamic range. More frames will allow even more. Maybe next Alpha one generation.. Top LCD panel would be nice.. latest Fuji cameras like GFX100II and XH-2 have perfect one. That should be standard feature on any advanced camera.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Agreed! Chelsea and I were just saying that this sensor could be amazing for computational photography... If only Sony had more emphasis on software.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

Fair review. But "GAME OVER Canon & Nikon"...? Except that it's not really game over for Canon and Nikon at all, is it, given the limitations, caveats and DR issues being reported with the A9III? But "global shutter" makes for great headlines, I'll give you that.

[@jeo33466]

Sony fans are so cringe. "Game over Nikon and Canon" Really?

[@yamint]

I use nikon d70 to shoot portrait outdoor and it can sync with my yongnuo 560 flash at 1/8000 with flash power set above 1/32. Hasselblad cannot even sync the flash at 1/1250 😅

[@photo-markus]

For a normal person, taking photos for 1.6 sec, 120 frames Per second is insane and unnecessary, even 20/sec is enormous. I own the z8 and z9 and for the type of photos take, I would never need more than 20. I prefer to have 45 MP, good colors, good autofocus. Yes it is a technical advancement and I respect Sony for that, but very few need that, and also the flash sync capabilities.

[@photographerjonathan]

I think it is time for Sony to take off the restriction they put on 3rd party glass to only shoot at 15 fps. it was ok when the A9 shot 20 fps with Sony glass but only 15 fps with 3rd party glass. and it was ok when the A1 shot 30 fps but with 3rd party glass was 15 fps which is 50%. but it's not ok when you are selling a 6000 dollar camera that shoots 120 fps. to limit 3rd party glass to 15 fps. not all people who buy this camera are pro sports photographers buying 6000 dollar or even 12000 dollar long glass. and many people have 3rd party lenses for sports and wildlife. you can't expect them to shoot at 15 fps on a camera that shoots 120 fps with Sony glass. Sony needs to make the A9lll at least 60 fps for 3rd party glass. but personally I think it is just time for Sony to enable 3rd party glass to shoot as many fps as the Sony glass. its all in Sonys software in the camera. and also enable focus breathing compensation for 3rd party glass. great 3rd party glass options is a huge part of the reason allot of people moved to Sony. and Sony should just fully embrace it and open up the door 100% for the 3rd party glass.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Agreed, it's unfair and anti-competitive.

[@alestair]

So Nikon is much much cheaper, very good AF, higher MP, lower ISO, better body, faster storage options, but the Sony is better because of the flippy screen and faster locked fps? Did I miss something?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah the Nikon does look really good in this comparison. The AF isn't quite on par, the EVF is weaker, flash sync is a real problem on the Nikons, too. But I was really impressed with how well the Z8 did at 120 FPS for sports, and honestly I didn't notice the difference in performance looking at the results.

[@spitfire1962]

Can you set the boost button to any fps or does it only do 120fps?

[@TechnoBabble]

Since you can manually choose the fps of each burst mode setting I'll assume that it's behavior is that it sets the camera to Hi+ and not specifically 120fps.

[@kevinhawkins82]

Very Good Video! Lots of good info. The Sony looks like a great Sports camera. My Nikon Z8 is too, and $2000 cheaper. Keep the great videos coming!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah honestly the Z8 came out looking fantastic in this comparison. The pics were awesome and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in those shoots.

[@noctivagance_imagery]

but can't you adjust the flash timing in the Sony menu? petapixel showed the example of the shutter being too fast for the flash, but showed how to change the function in menu so you can sync at any speed

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah, I did that every time I tested it. Here's a detailed comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp-lZq2nq5iWZpI

[@ncerda]

It would be awesome if you shared which IPhone you used to record the video! Thanks

[@bobhuynh1974]

In the video the graphics for the A9III spec showed 4K at 240fps, not 120fps. Is that right??

[@TonyAndChelsea]

It's 120; my mistake.

[@joegrossinger3381]

Bah! A super camera in a teeny tiny niche. A really glorious technological tour de force selling for $6000. Price is way too high and the pixels at 24MP are way way too low.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah, I don't totally disagree. The global shutter is definitely a breakthrough, but at the same time, I really couldn't find many people complaining about the tiny amount of rolling shutter they get on a Z8 or a1, and those offer the ability to do much higher megapixels when you want it. As you'll see in the vidoe I'm not convinced the unlimited sync speed is really a breakthrough in real-world usage. It remains to be seen whether there's an impact on high ISO shots, though I didn't see anything.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

New tech will have it's benefits standout with time

[@jeromemisa6642]

Wait for the Alpha 1 Mark 2 Global Shutter Sensor

[@aliendroneservices6621]

It will be the same price as the a9ii was at its respective release date, controlling for inflation.

[@reheapification2]

Maybe that much count of MP is what makes the global shutter possible.

[@PixelSplash999]

I understand how an electronic and mechanical shutter works. I would love for Tony to explain what the sensor is doing. I get the electronic shutter sensor reads from top to bottom on regular cameras, but with a mechanical shutter is the sensor acting like a global sensor (all switched on at once) waiting for the mechanical shutter to paint the light over it?

[@jjhammond1]

Hey Northrops-stop being so dramatic. “Game Over”? Yeah, like it was game over for Apple when the S23 Ultra came out. Give me a break.

[@Battlem0nk]

How are pre-capture images organized on the memory card?

[@HokKan]

The biggest news and standout feature of the A9III is actually not the global shutter, but their redesigned body shape - finally moving away from their sharp edge body design that's kept a lot of people from buying into their system. They've stubbornly held on to the sharp edged design for the longest time, but it appears that they've finally admitted their fault. Hopefully, Sony cameras moving forward will keep improving in ergonomics and become more comfortable to handle. It's the biggest thing keeping me away from investing in their system. This is certainly a very important first step in the correct direction.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

This is a valid point.

[@Chris-13]

Yes me too , if they could improve their ergonomics for large hands I would consider them . Their vertical grips do not interface securely on the bodies , there is “play” when bolted up tight

[@TechnoBabble]

Seriously, when I saw the side by side with the A1 I immediately thought "Oh, it has a Nikon grip now". I shoot a lot with the A7 IV, and my favourite lens is slightly unwieldy Sigma 40mm f/1.4 Art. I literally get a blister on my finger from the grip shape. It's better with lighter lenses and longer lenses where I can balance the weight better between two hands... but with short, heavy lenses it's brutal.

[@HokKan]

@@TechnoBabble yeah, handling and ergonomics is so important. It's not even hard to fix. They can easily redesign their body and grab a huge chunk of the market. Good to see they've snapped out of their stubbornness. Still, the A9III doesn't look too comfortable, but it's certainly an improvement over other Sony bodies. I hope their next generation of cameras won't be using the A9III body, but a further improved version of it. It's a good improvement, but certainly not enough. They can just copy designs from other manufacturers that have already got it right, like Olympus, Canon, or Nikon. No need to reinvent the wheel, or be different for the sake of being different.

[@TechnoBabble]

@@HokKan For my hands, I think the A9 III will be at the point of not being a nuisance. The A7 IV/A1/A7R V body style is almost there for me. Nikon is still my favourite, but the Sony stuff doesn't hinder me at this point.

[@rezar4117]

Just enjoy the competition, just buy what you need, learn about your gear i.e depth of field, dynamic range if you want to maximize your gear, the important thing photography it self. 120fps that just a tool, but is too much😢

[@RedBullishTrading]

9:32 I think you MIs-spoke about which camera has more MP for cropping in sports?

[@rickpinelli1586]

Nikon Z9 has Pre-Capture.

[@DJVARAO]

Awesome technology, as only Sony can do it. However, I hope they release a medium format one with the same basic capabilities, but oriented to studio photography.