Sony A7R III Review - DON’T Buy Before Watching!

[@smoloms]

I’ve had an A7R3 for the last 4 years. I can say with full confidence that this will be my last photography camera.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

It is great to see the A7R3 getting so much love. I’m on the same boat!

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

since 2021, i have used the A7R3a as my main work camera-events, portraits. i also use it for my personal work-street, night, landscapes. i photograph compressed raw without any issues with client satisfaction or print quality. i agree with many of your comments. i'll add that i do wish the phase detection worked across the entire frame, especially when photographing in portrait mode so the top section was under the AF sensor. when that does happen, i simply focus and recompose. other than that quibble, i really have co complaints. thanks for the effort and sharing. thumbs up.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@smalltalk.productions9977 Glad to hear that the A7R3 is serving you well even to this day! I learned to use compress raw after posting this video because someone told me to use it on the comments section. Ever since then, I’ve been enjoying the smaller files, and faster processing time when shooting burst. I am yet to print any photos from this camera, but I just moved recently so I want to print large to hang it up on my wall. Thanks for your input on the phase detection. Did not notice it when I was using it because I never did portrait work. Thanks again for watching and leaving a comment! Have a nice day!

[@squareviews]

The limited focus area (for phase) in portrait mode was my only real gripe with this camera. One can work around it, but focus/recompose isn't always the best solution in hectic situations. It was the only reason I moved on to an A7Riv for which I otherwise had no need.

[@razafiarisonmichael4421]

You did really great photos with the helios. I have the same camera since 2021 and I love it, I don't need more for now. In terms of video, it makes great output if we know how to balance the colors even at 8 bit

[@AlexKimPhoto]

Thanks a lot for watching my video! I should go through some tutorials on color grading 8 bit.

[@jvsonyt]

I still have an a7r3. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it; it's still a solid backup camera. My only gripe is the autofocus is slowish for fast moving action

[@AlexKimPhoto]

I’m on the same boat! Really don’t see the need to upgrade any time soon. Yes i did notice that sometimes it struggles when im using my 35mm 2.8za when there are some moving subjects, but much better than other cameras that i own haha

[@Juventinos]

you didn't get it for fast movie action did you?

[@jvsonyt]

@@Juventinos no, I got mine for landscapes, portraits and product photography. But after using a9's and current generation sony cameras you can really tell how sluggish the auto focus system is

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

@@AlexKimPhoto I have the Sony FE 35 f1.8 and the autofocus is working without problems, I have the A7III too and there is not difference in Autofocus speed with this lens.

[@nicedward7544]

It really depends on the lens. The 200-600 is better on the Riii compared to the Riv somehow. I have no problem shooting birds in flight. It's no a9 or a1 but it's doable

[@LonewolfSZN]

great review!

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@LonewolfSZN Thank you so much for watching!

[@cosmaracorosu]

Great review of an older favorite, thank you!

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@cosmaracorosu Thank you so much for watching!

[@50golightly]

I love your work 📸👍🏿 I wasn’t sure if I should get the R2 or the R3 , thank you 🙏🏿

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@50golightly Thank you so much for watching! Hope you enjoy your new camera!

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

I have good news for you. Two ways to solve the monitor and finder problem when the monitor is not completely closed and you want to take portrait photos. First you choose a custom button that is comfortable for you (I use the C4) and as a function you assign it to change to finder or change to monitor (it doesn't matter) second, if you want the change to be permanent you go to the monitor function and change it front Auto to manual, if you want a more intelligent variant you leave it in auto. What will happen is that even if the monitor is not perfectly closed or in some open position, when you press the assigned button the image will change to the finder allowing you to take the portrait photo without delay, then when you stop using the finder the auto function returns to have priority and the image will go to the monitor without you doing anything.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@marcelocampoamor4761 Hey Marcelo, Thank you so much for the detailed help. I will implement this on my camera straight away!

[@backyardjunkie]

Alex this this great, I am looking for a back- up to my A7iv, still undecided, but thanks. Liked and subbed.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

Thank you so much! I hope this video helps your decision!

[@gerykis]

Good review . I might buy and used A7RIII .

[@AlexKimPhoto]

Thanks a lot for watching! Definitely recommend it.

[@TravisVarga]

Great vid! I was surprised how much I enjoyed the A7R V as a mainly videographer (did a review on the 8k if you wanna check it out). Those extra MPs always come in handy...Subscribed!

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@TravisVarga Thank you so much for watching! I’ll be sure to check out that vid because one day I might want to upgrade to a A7RV

[@dkvlogs3791]

a7r5 is sick!

[@TravisVarga]

@@AlexKimPhotoawesome

[@Bernard-ux2eb]

I uograded from an A7R and Pentax K-1 to an A7RIII last year, managed to find a new one for £1,600. Bottom line. It has phenomenal image quality but I miss the K-1 for the simple joy of photography.

[@bondgabebond4907]

This is one of the best cameras made. As a still photographer from the long-ago days of film cameras, I feel very comfortable with the R3. That sensor is amazing. The images coming from this scream excellence. I've taken photos I swore would come out bad but with the image stabilization in body and even in the 24-105mm lens, the image came out great. Today, as you say, no other camera can really best this one. I think Sony really make some magic when they made the R3. I still love this camera and use it often. I don't care about video, I care about stills that can be printed and posted on walls or in photo albums. this is something video is not good at. As I say, Photos are forever, videos get lost in a hard drive.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@bondgabebond4907 Yes I agree completely. I would love the latest tech and gear, but i just see absolutely no reason to upgrade my R3 when I see the image quality from it. After reading what you wrote, I would love to get into large prints with this camera. I only have experience with medium and small sized prints. I only talk about and use video because I am posting on KZbin haha but when I first bought this camera, I had no idea I would eventually get into KZbin. If I knew I would shoot for KZbin, I might have gotten a different camera. But I am glad that I made the choice to go with the R3 even though it slightly lacks in that department. Thanks for watching my video and taking the time to comment! Have a nice day.

[@afferist]

Thanks for the video, I've been dreaming about this camera for many years. But it lacks the rotatable screen and sharper fullhd 30/60 fps shooting that the A7C or IV has. But the IV is more expensive, and the A7C has an even smaller viewfinder than the A6300/6400, on which I could no longer look into it. That's such a difficult choice

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@afferist Yes, i can confirm that the lack of rotatable screen hurts you when you shoot vertically. Especially when you are shooting at an angle. This was my first hybrid camera, so i was satisfied with the sharpness of the video. But then again i have no comparison with a sharper camera. It really is a difficult choice! For me, it came down to the price and the extra megapixels on the A7Riii. I hope you find the right one for you! Thanks a lot for watching :)

[@afferist]

@@AlexKimPhoto thanks =)

[@Len_KP]

Which is better, a7r3 or a7iv..? (atm into photography more than video)

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@Len_KP such a difficult question! If you feel confident that you will stay more into photography, then a7r3. But if u want articulating screen and want better video performance, then the a7iv

[@Len_KP]

@it’s so difficult to choose because my line of work sometimes require the af to be fast and reliable to capture those fast moment shots and 399 vs 759 phase detection points the af difference is kinda pretty significant in my opinion but also just missing out on the R line in general and losing some mp’s stings a little too 🥲

[@fotosvond_]

I got mine in October 2023 new for around 1600€. It's excellent. The only things I miss are S-Cinetone and Active Steadyshot for video :D What you said about video is absolutely true. It is by no means bad at video. It depends on what you expect. Of course, stabilization is always a prominent aspect in video and full frame sensors. Shooting stationary video is not a problem at all, image looks great. As far as you move while recording, you have to consider some aspects to be able to get it stable in post.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@fotosvond_ Yes, I noticed that I really have to be steady while shooting videos which is a bit of a bummer. The steady shot does not help much in shooting videos. But for what I use, I am fine with mostly shooting stationary videos. Thank you so much for watching and congrats on your new camera :)

[@WazzyTV]

i'm more into videos, youtube videos,club videos etc and also want nice quality photos..should i get the A7Riii Or A7iii

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@WazzyTV i would go for the A7Riii

[@WazzyTV]

@@AlexKimPhoto why? I’m more into videos..do get good video quality

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@WazzyTV because although the a7m3 has some video features the R3 lacks, the price difference between the two is not very big at all. You get comparable video quality with better photo quality. But you cant go wrong with a7m3 either

[@WazzyTV]

@@AlexKimPhoto i appreciate the feeback

[@orangebetsy]

My batteries seem to drain too fast. Got a new one, same. Best tips for minimizing drain?

[@AlexKimPhoto]

Wow, that is unheard of. I would start by lowering the brightness of the lcd, and have the camera on sleep mode if you don't touch it for more than 30 seconds.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

This camera and even the Sony A7R5 still have a striping line problem. Fuji and Olympus have this grid problem. These artifacts are from Sony sensors with phase detection when a light source is done r what low coming in sharp like a snoot. A ND or polarizer filter should fix this problem. Get the magnetic rings so you can pop filters on and off. Also Raw Therapy can fix the stripping problem. Look up Sony A7ii or Sony A7iii striping lines. There is a DPreview post that says Sony A7ii bit hrs taking about the Sony A7iii. Canon does not have this problem.

[@MrSilentliu]

Moiré pattern? A7R series do not have an optical low pass filter.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

@@MrSilentliu Its not a moire issue. Its from the phase detection.

[@auxsom]

Great video. TY.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@auxsom You’re welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@TechGamerAw1]

Thank you sir for given information 😊

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@TechGamerAw1 Thank you so much for watching!

[@mediaflmcreation]

Compressed RAW will save you a TON of space just FYI, there's no literal difference between the two. Yo ucan consider compressed raw as a half processed, half baked process BUT you still have absolute tons of room to edit ad adjust. I Have the A7R ii and it's great for both modes and I recently started using compressed raws and I'm a dark, blacks almost fully dropped moody type shooter with occasional high key and neither side shoes signs of breaking when I edit. Plus you get like triple the buffer rate. Give it a try! Hybrid shooting.. all cameras have to process files before you can switch modes so don't blame the camera. That's just threading purposes can't blame em. Imagine being in the middle of processing files and your boss pulls your files away and throws a pile of something else, you loose your place lol

[@AlexKimPhoto]

Thank you for this information! I saw from other photography youtube that compressed raw is just as good as uncompressed raw, but it was hard for me to take a leap of faith because I’ve been shooting uncompressed for 3 years and i like to shoot in darker situations. But hearing from your user experience convinced me. Wow, faster buffer rate from compressed raw is something that never crossed my mind! This absolutely convinced me to use compressed raw. Thank you. Yes i thought that switching modes while processing was the norm for all cameras haha but now with the faster buffer rate, it would matter less. Thank you so much for the comment and watching my video! Hope you have a great start to your week!

[@mediaflmcreation]

@@AlexKimPhoto I was the same exact way for as long as I've been shooting raws, at first i needed the buffer rate for sports so i switched to jpegs but i didn't like what I was stuck with when i wanted to edit. I switched to compressed raws and i was like well shoot no difference, double to triple the buffer rate. i can burst raws all day long now LOL. Haven't switched back since UNLESS I'm doing a high paid shoot where it's more still semi moving not so much bursting but otherwise, compressed raws for me! Glad i can help man yea give it a real street photography try when you get out again... nothing but compressed. Do a buffer test too right now, it will burst to no end LOL. On my A7R ii I get like 22 bursts and I think it's every lasting on yours which is a body I'm soon going to get

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@mediaflmcreation Yes, I am planning to shoot a POV street photography episode. So I will be giving the compressed raw a first shot at it. I will be shooting videos as well so i will get some real life comparisons when switching from photo to video. I am more excited to be on my photoshoot now thanks to you! Hope you get your A7R3 soon and hope it suits your needs! It is a fantastic camera!

[@mediaflmcreation]

@@AlexKimPhoto Thank you!. I'm supporting you with an awesome subscribe and bell for ALL so i can see your update video and take on this.

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@mediaflmcreation Thank you so much! I really appreciate the support! 😁🙌🙌

[@souvikdey3103]

I am using sony A73 last 4 years, I just plan to upgrade my camera.I want to buy Sony A7R3. Should i buy in 2024 ? Is it still worthy to buy in 2024.. one of the main reason to buy Sony A7R3 just because its budget friendly for me.sony A74 is much costly then A7R3. Should I buy A7R3 in 2024 ? By the way I am a wedding photographer..

[@AlexKimPhoto]

@@souvikdey3103 i think if you were satisfied with the autofocus of A73, you should get the A7R3. If you are completely fine with the megapixel of A73, and want to upgrade to the articulating screen and better autofocus, then get the A74