Sony a9 vs a7RIII – Detailed Comparison

In this article, we will be comparing two mirrorless Pro cameras made by Sony – Sony a9 vs a7RIII.

Here, we will be telling you all you need to know about each of these cameras. And also, which one is the better camera for you – of course, depending on what you need one for.

So, are you in a hurry, and thus, need to make a really quick decision, you can just run through the next three sections. However, if you want a full on comparison and review, stick with us till the end. In the last section of this article, we will be telling you what we think about both these cameras.

PS: the Sony a7RIII was announced as replacement for the a7RII. So, now, if you wish to see how the Sony a9 matches up against the Sony a7RII, check out our Sony a9 vs a7RII comparison article.

Comparison Overview — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

So, we have already mentioned that these two cameras are Pro mirrorless cameras. Well, they have a lot more in common. And inasmuch as they do, they both each edge each other in some areas.

As a matter of fact, the Sony a9 vs a7RIII battle is a really tough one. So, brace up for a tight duel of two Pro cameras – the Sony a9 vs a7RIII.

Both these cameras are very functional, durable, and thus, it might be difficult to decide which to get. Well, this is what we are here for, to help you make a well informed decision. In this Sony a9 vs a7RIII comparison article, we will be recommending each of these cameras for you, based on what your needs are.

And of course, we all know the brand name; Sony. This is a company with over 70 years of experience and impact in the tech universe. Pro photographers and amateurs alike, apparently, have a lot of trust in this brand, because they are known to always deliver great quality. It is no different with these cameras.

Both these cameras in comparison today – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – were released in the same year, only a couple of months apart. While the Sony a9 was announced by Sony on the 19^th of April, 2017, the Sony a7RIII was announced 6 months later; precisely on the 25^th of October, 2017.

Now, the important question is this; how do these cameras perform when put side by side with each other? Well, in the area of burst mode shooting, the Sony a9 comes out tops. This camera is 2 times faster than its counterpart on burst mode, thus, it is the better camera to take photos of moving objects with.

Furthermore, it has a 100 per cent higher light sensitivity than the a7RIII, which means that you will be able to shoot more efficiently in low light conditions with the a9.

However, when we speak of sensor resolution, the Sony a7RIII is surely the better camera. This camera gives you 75 per cent more pixels in maximum sensor resolution than the Sony a9. And more pixels, of course, equal more detail in your images.

Which has the better price-value ratio: a9 or a7RIII?

The Sony a7RIII has a better price-value ratio than the a9. These two camera are a good match; they are very good professional cameras and are highly functional. However, the a7RIII is a thousand bucks more affordable. Now, one undeniably important factor that influences a buyer’s demand for a product is the price. and in that aspect, the Sony a7RIII surely is the one that looks more attractive.

Anyway, if you want to see other ways these cameras compare, check out the comparison table below.

Comparison Table — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

	Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
Camera weight	1.48 pounds (673 grams)	1.45 pounds (657 grams)
Camera dimensions	5 by 2.5 by 3.8 inches	5 by 2.9 by 3.8 inches
ISO range	100 to 51200 (expandable to 50 to 204800)	100 to 32000 (expandable to 50 to 102400)
Burst mode	20 frames per second	10 frames per second
Maximum sensor resolution	24 mega pixels	42 mega pixels
Focus points	693	425
JPEG buffer	364	82
RAW buffer	240	30
Estimated start up time	1.20 seconds	1.7 seconds

Which Is Better Under What Circumstance — Sony a9 vs a7RIII?

Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
So, let’s say you are a sports photographer, you would need to do a lot of continuous shooting so as to capture the moment, right? And of course, the faster your burst mode (continuous shooting) the better, right? Well, in that case, the Sony a9 is just the camera you need. It boasts of 20 frames per second on burst mode, which is actually really impressive speed.	If you want your images to come out with higher resolutions, then the Sony a7RIII is your better option. It offers you an impressive 42 mega pixels, which, comparing the Sony a9 vs a7RIII here, is 14 more than what you get with the a9.

Common Features — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

The most basic similarities of the Sony a9 and a7RIII are:

i. They are both pro cameras.

ii. They are both mirrorless cameras.

Pro Camera

So, a Pro camera is literally the highest and most functional level of cameras there are. Compared to Semi-Pro and Entry-Level cameras, Pro cameras are the most durable.

Furthermore, Pro cameras are the least affordable type of cameras. This is because they are made with more durable materials and better features to withstand more intense use.

Also, these cameras are pretty complicated to use if you have never laid hands on a camera before.

So, for you to desire any of these cameras – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – you probably already have had prior knowledge of photography and how to use cameras. If you do not, then a Pro camera might confuse you a little bit.

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Mirrorless Cameras

In addition to being Pro cameras, both these cameras in comparison today – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – are also mirrorless.

Now, what are mirrorless cameras? Mirrorless cameras are those cameras that do not have optical viewfinders and mirrors. Why? Well, because they do not have any use for them.

In a mirrorless camera, light is sent from the camera lens straight to the electronic viewfinder or the LCD screen. This is because these cameras do not have reflex designs.

A reflex design is something unique to digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. DSLR cameras (also known as mirrored cameras) are the cameras that come with mirrors and optical viewfinders.

In these cameras, light is sent from the lens, then to the mirrors, and then finally to the optical viewfinder, where the image about to be captured can be previewed and framed.

In a mirrorless camera, you are able to frame your images (before capturing) in an electronic viewfinder. However, note that, though electronic viewfinders are exclusive to mirrorless cameras, not all mirrorless cameras have them.

While some mirrorless cameras only offer the option of attaching an external viewfinder, some others neither come with an electronic viewfinder nor do they give you an option to attach an external one. In these cases, your only option will be the LCD screen.

Anyway, though, these 2 mirrorless cameras we are concerned with today – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – both come with electronic viewfinders.

And this is just the first of the many similarities that exist between these cameras, as you will be finding out in this section.

Here, we will be listing and briefly discussing those features you will find in both the Sony a9 vs a7RIII.

Here are the features common to both the Sony a9 and a7RIII:

i. Electronic viewfinder

ii. Articulating screen

iii. Touch screen

iv. Built-in Wi-Fi

v. Built-in Bluetooth

vi. RAW support

vii. External flash hot shoe

viii. PC sync port for off-camera flashes

ix. External microphone jack

x. Headphone jack

xi. HDMI output

xii. Auto exposure bracketing

xiii. Weather sealing

xiv. Face detection focus

xv. Image stabilization

We will now discuss each of these features in detail here…

Electronic Viewfinder

An electronic viewfinder is a miniature display on which you can view your images before you capture them. This feature is pretty important, and one of the reasons is because it gives you more control of your images.

If you are shooting in a location where the sun is shining a little too bright, you will be more thankful for this feature. The sun makes it nearly impossible for you to use your LCD screen, so, you would have to use the electronic viewfinder to preview your image and control the capturing.

Like we have already mentioned, this is a feature exclusive to just mirrorless cameras. Therefore, it should not come as much of a surprise that each of these cameras – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – comes with this feature.

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Articulating Screen

It is one thing to have an LCD screen where you can view your images while you shoot and all of that. It is, however, another thing to have a screen that rotates. Well, that is exactly what an articulating screen is.

A screen that rotates is a big plus for you as a photographer. Yes, we have talked about how great the electronic viewfinder is, but well, you won’t always be able to use it.

When you have to capture an image – or record a video – from an awkward angle, it might be difficult – or maybe even impossible – to get your eyes to the viewfinder. In such cases, you can easily just flip your screen till you have a good view of it. And this is a feature many photographers have been wishing for in a pro camera, so, it really is a great addition.

Another thing an articulating screen is good for is selfies and vlogging. Even professional photographers sometimes love to get their selfie game up. And seeing as they each of these cameras we are comparing here today – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – come with an articulating screen, either of these cameras can sure do that for you.

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Touch Screen

Further speaking about screens, photographers also love a touch screen. It affords a lot more convenience of use.

Being able to focus on an object in view just by tapping your screen is surely another level of convenience. And that is one of the many things a touch screen camera offers you.

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Built-In Wi-Fi

Built-in Wi-Fi gives you an option of fast and convenient transfer of files. And as a professional photographer, this is one feature you indeed will love.

A lot of times, time is a very rare and important resource for professional photographers. So, being able to transfer files from your camera to a nearby device in just a few minutes is surely great news.

All you have to do is connect your camera to a nearby smartphone using your camera’s built-in Wi-Fi and the near field communication (NFC) technology.

These are such efficient features that work hand in hand, and are both extremely easy to use. Well, to help you get the hang of it, check out the video below.

In this video, you will be seeing how easily you can connect your Sony camera (the Sony a9, a7RIII, a7III specifically) to your smartphone, and how you can then transfer files. Check it out!

That is not even all about these features. After you have connected your camera to a nearby device, you can then use that device to do a remote controlled shooting.

That is, you can conduct a shoot without even holding your camera in your hand. With this, you can place your camera where you want it, and use your connected smart device as your screen.

With that device you can do all you would normally do with your camera. If you are a wildlife photographer, you would know that this is an awesome feature.

You can place your camera where you are sure the animals will converge, and monitor your recording from a safe distance, using your smartphone.

Also, knowing your presence in their midst might disturb their natural activities, and jeopardize your mission, the remote controlled shooting becomes even better appreciated.

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Built-In Bluetooth

This is another type of wireless connection that your Sony camera offers you. With Bluetooth, your camera is even better connected.

This means that you will be able to connect your camera to even more devices. There are some devices that are not Wi-Fi enabled, but have Bluetooth.

Therefore, you will still be able to do a wireless transfer with those devices. This is absolutely great.

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RAW Support

This is the feature that ensures that you are able to preserve the highest quality of your photos and videos. And well, it is present in both of these cameras – Sony a9 vs a7RIII.

And for a professional camera, this is surely one thing that is expected. Sometimes, a compressed version may not suffice for what you need to use the images for.

This is why the option of having the images in their uncompressed format – RAW – is always very welcome.

With your images in the RAW format, there is little to no noise (of course, this is still dependent on a lot other factors), and editing these images is even better.

So, if you were to take a couple of pictures that would be used on a billboard, you would have to take them in RAW.

And this is because JPEG reduces the quality, and a low quality image would be disastrous for a scale as large as that.

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External Flash Hot Shoe

You know, if you want to do flash photography, or you just want great lighting for your shoot, you would need an external flash.

And basically, for you to be able to attach an external flash, your camera should support it. And this is the feature that tells you that your camera supports it.

So, when you see a hot shoe atop your camera’s screen, it means that you can easily enhance lighting by getting an external flash and mounting it right there.

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PC Sync Port For Flash

If you thought that the lighting you get with the external flash mounted on the hot shoe was the most enhanced you can get with your camera, then you were surely wrong.

You can find the PC sync port by the side of your camera, and connect to it a special type of external flash different from the regular ones.

With this feature, both these cameras – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – offer better and more advanced lighting than many other cameras out there.

The video below will show you how to use the PC sync port to connect your flash. You will also be seeing the special type of flash that this port supports, and the advantages it has over your regular external flash. Check it out here!

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External Microphone Jack

You will sometimes need to do video and audio recordings with your camera. And the truth is, your camera’s internal microphone won’t always give you the best of sound.

Anyway, this feature – the microphone jack – is what gives you an option of improving on the sound you are able to get.

An external microphone will give you significantly better sound than what your camera’s internal microphone will give you.

This external hardware is better than the in-built microphone at a couple of things – one is the cancellation of background noise.

If you are a vlogger who records videos in a studio or in a really quiet room, this might not be too thrilling for you.

However, if, on the other hand, you are a journalist, and you have to occasionally conduct interviews in very noisy places, this would definitely be a really lovely feature for you.

With this, you can worry less about the background noise, and just bother yourself with getting an external microphone with which you can increase your audio quality.

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Headphone Jack

Further speaking on audio and video recordings, headphones are another set of devices that can be really helpful. With headphones, you have more control of your recordings.

You can easily detect, while you record, if the sound is just right or if it needs some adjustments here and there.

And obviously, you need a headphone jack to connect your headphones. Furthermore, for a Pro camera, we think this is a pretty necessary feature and we love that Sony did not disappoint with either of these cameras.

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HDMI Output

This is a feature that allows you connect an HDMI cord to your camera, and then to a monitor or television screen.

This helps you view your photos and videos in displays much larger than your camera’s.

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

This is a feature that allows you take 3 or more photos – each of them with different exposure settings – when you hit the shutter button.

The auto exposure bracketing feature will come in handy when you are undecided on what exposure setting will produce the best results in a particular lighting condition.

Furthermore, this feature is so easy to use, and saves you a whole lot of stress. In the video below, you will be seeing just how easy it is to use.

This video shows you how to set the auto exposure bracketing feature on your Sony a7RIII, how to use it, and generally how it works on this camera. Check it out here!

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Weather Sealing

This is a feature that ensures that your camera is safe to use even in the harshest weather condition.

So, let’s say you are a professional sports photographer, and you are to capture images from a football match in the winter.

As you know, in the winter, the weather is bound to be really volatile. If your camera is without a weather sealing, you will have to shield your camera each time the weather shows some funny signs.

This means you probably will be missing many big moments of the beautiful game. However, with either of these cameras being discussed in this article today – Sony a9 vs a7RIII – you won’t have to do that.

And that is solely as a result of this feature – weather sealing. With this, you can keep taking great photographs without being bothered about what is going on with the weather.

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Face Detection Focus

The face detection focus is an absolutely amazing feature for portrait photography. What it does is that it detects and focuses on the human faces in your camera’s frame.

Because of this feature, you can now have more detail on your portraits. Really amazing.

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Image Stabilization

While recording videos with your camera in hand for a couple of minutes, it is very likely that it will shake a couple of times.

And these shakes will affect the smoothness of your video, and can go on to affect a lot of other things, and maybe even put your professionalism in question. Surely nobody want that.

Therefore, Sony has made these cameras with a feature that solves this problem – image stabilization.

So, if your camera shakes, what the image stabilization does is to make sure that the effects of those shakes on your videos and images are as minimal as possible. Isn’t that great?

Unique Features — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

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Anti-Aliasing Filter

This is a feature that you can find in the Sony a9, but cannot in the Sony a7RIII. So, what really is this anti-aliasing filter?

Sincerely, it is a pretty complicated feature to explain, and that is why we have attached a video below that will properly break it down for you in just about 2 minutes.

But in one sentence, anti-aliasing is the feature that removes (or reduces) jaggys or moiré from (in) your images and gives you a clearer image.

Anyway, you can check out that video here, it will be really helpful.

Unique Pros — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

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Which has is better in low light: a9 or a7RIII?

The Sony a9 has an ISO range of 100 to 51200, which can further be expanded to a range of 50 to 204800. With a range this wide, the Sony a9 has really great light sensitivity, which means taking photos in low light areas just got even more convenient. The a7RIII, on the other hand, has a range of 100 – 32000, and is further expandable to 50 – 102400. This means that the a9 offers you 100 percent better light sensitivity than you will be getting with the a7RIII – a pro camera which was released 6 months after it. Wow!

Don’t get it wrong, 102400 is actually not a bad number for an expanded maximum ISO. However, the 204800 you get with the Sony a9 is just amazing. And it just opens a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to shooting in low light areas.

Your camera’s ISO is basically its sensitivity to light. The ISO is very influential in your camera’s ability to get bright images in areas of low light. So, the higher the maximum ISO, the higher the possibility of you being able to get brighter images with it in dark places.

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Which is faster in continuous shooting: a9 or a7RIII?

At 20 frames per second, we sure can say the burst mode of the Sony a9 is fast; 100 percent faster than the a7RIII in continuous shooting. Awesome, isn’t it? Burst mode is the setting that allows you take continuous shots with your camera. And this is especially used to take pictures of a moving object, or person, as the case may be.

So, if you want to take a picture of a flying bird, you would have to shoot using your camera’s burst mode. This is a setting that will be appreciated by wildlife photographers, sports photographers, paparazzi, and other photographers who would need to take pictures of things (or people) on the move.

With this brief explanation, you probably have already been able to figure out that a fast burst mode is most appreciated.

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Which has more focus points: a9 or a7RIII?

You get 693 focus points with the Sony a9 which is 268 more than what you get with the a7RIII. The higher the number of focus points, the sharper and clearer the images you are bound to get with that camera. Great news, isn’t it?

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Which has the larger buffer: a9 or a7RIII?

The buffer of the Sony a9 is pretty large. It can hold as many as 364 JPEG shots or 240 RAW shots at a time. These are pretty impressive numbers. On the other hand, that of the Sony a7RIII can hold only 82 JPEG shots or 30 RAW shots per time. What is a buffer and what does it do? In simple terms, a buffer is where your image is temporarily stored – while shooting in burst mode – before they are sent to the memory card for permanent storage.

Now, if you have ever been forced (by your camera) to take a pause while shooting in burst mode, it probably had something to do with your camera’s buffer.

A large buffer means that your continuous shooting can go on for a long time before you have to take that pause.

What this means is that, while shooting in burst mode, you can go on shooting for a long time – as long as it takes to get 364 shots – before having to wait.

As you might have already guessed, that pause your camera forces you to take is to help free up space in the buffer by transferring files to the memory card.

So, definitely, a large buffer is craved – in pro cameras especially, because those pauses could disrupt the flow of the continuous shooting, and if they came too frequently, could be really frustrating. 

One thing you have to note, anyway, is that, usually, the size of your camera’s buffer when you are taking JPEG shots is different from when you are shooting RAW.

In these cases, it is common that the larger buffer is the JPEG buffer, because RAW files are usually larger, and so, occupy more space in the buffer.

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Which has the higher maximum sensor resolution: a9 or a7RIII?

With the a7RIII, you get 42 mega pixels of maximum sensor resolution, which is a high number. It is, as a matter of fact, nearly twice what you get with the a9 (24 mega pixels). Impressive! The maximum sensor resolution is one of the major factors that determine the quality of images you will be getting with that camera. And as expected, a high maximum sensor resolution means that you will be getting more detail in your pictures than with a low one.

Unique Cons — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

Unique Cons Of The Sony a9

i. Average maximum sensor resolution

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Average Maximum Sensor Resolution

We have already discussed how important a high maximum sensor resolution is. Well, with 24 mega pixels, the maximum sensor resolution is only average, at best.

Perhaps this could have been referred to as a pretty high number for an entry-level or semi-pro camera. But for a pro camera of this level, more was expected.

Unique Cons Of The Sony a7RIII

i. Average burst mode speed

ii. Small buffer

Average Burst Mode Speed

10 frames per second is surely not what you want to be spending thousands of dollars to get. This would have been a great frame rate if the a7RIII was an entry-level camera.

However, for a professional camera, 10 frames per second cannot be regarded as a fast burst mode. Especially when you are getting a 100 per cent faster burst mode with its rival – the Sony a9.

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Small Buffer

Still speaking on your camera’s burst mode. It is one thing for continuous shooting to be less than impressive, it is another for it to have to halt frequently.

We have already explained how the size of your camera’s buffer can affect how long you can go on shooting on burst mode per time.

The buffer of the Sony a7RIII can hold only 82 JPEG shots or 30 RAW shots per time. Let us just quickly remind you that the a7RIII is a pro camera, because those numbers might have had you thinking it was anything other than that.

Check out these other articles:

• Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D3400 – Detailed Comparison
• Sony a6500 Vs a7S II – Which Camera Is Better For You?
• Sony a6000 Vs Nex 7 – Detailed Comparison
• Sony a6500 Vs Fuji XT20 – Which Option Is Better For You?
• Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Detailed Comparison
• Sony a6300 vs a7 – Detailed Comparison

Common Pros — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

	Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
Better framing	The Sony a9 comes with an electronic viewfinder, and that means that you can easily frame your images. So, no matter how bright the sun is during your outdoor shoot, you sure will still be able to frame your images, and thus, have better control of what you are capturing.	Same as the Sony a9.
Easy transfer of files	With the in-built Wi-Fi and near field communication (NFC), you can easily connect your Sony a9 to a nearby compatible device and quickly transfer files. The possibilities are even further broadened with the in-built Bluetooth. You can transfer files to devices that are not Wi-Fi compatible but are Bluetooth enabled.	Same as the Sony a9.
Super fast transfer of files	The Sony a9 supports a special type of memory cards called Ultra High Speed (UHS) memory cards. From the name, you probably already get the entire story. Slotting this memory card into your camera means that transfer of files will be done in super fast speed, which is surely a lot faster than what you will get with regular memory cards.	Same as the Sony a9.
Remote controlled shooting	Furthermore, with the Wi-Fi and NFC, you are able to use your smartphone as your camera’s screen and, with it, conduct a shoot without having to touch your camera. The remote control is a great function, and can come in handy in many situations.	Same as the Sony a9.
Image stabilization	With this feature in your camera, the effects of shakes are reduced to the barest minimum. This is great for recordings you make with your camera in your hands.	Same as the Sony a9.
Great portraits	With the Sony a9 coming with face detection focus, the human faces in your frame will be coming out sharp and with enough detail. This means you will be able to get amazing portrait photographs with this camera.	Same as the Sony a9.
Enhanced lighting and great flash photography	This camera comes with an external flash hot shoe, meaning that you will be able to get a secondary source of lighting on your camera. This is also great feature if you will be doing a lot of flash photography.	Same as the Sony a9.
Even more advanced lighting	Aside the external flash that you just mount on the hot shoe, you have an extra option of further enhancing your camera’s light using the PC sync port. The external flash that connects to this port offers more advantages than the regular external flash, and so, with the Sony a9, you can easily do a lighting upgrade. Lovely!	Same as the Sony a9.
High quality images	You are able to get your images in high quality – the highest, in fact – because of the presence of RAW support in this camera. With this, you can shoot and have your camera preserve the uncompressed format of those images.	Same as the Sony a9.
Great selfies	Coming with an articulating screen, this camera makes it possible for you to take pictures of yourself by yourself. This is really great, because you won’t always have people around to do that for you.	Same as the Sony a9.
Good results from difficult positions	Here is another thing your camera is amazing at, and this is also because of the articulating screen. Whether you need to take overhead shots or shots from angles so difficult, you can’t get your eyes to your camera’s electronic viewfinder, the articulating screen is there to help. What you need to do is rotate it till you have a good view of what the lens is capturing, and you’re good.	Same as the Sony a9.
Great sound quality	This camera comes with a microphone jack, which means that you can connect an external microphone to your camera and get audio of much higher quality than what your camera’s internal microphone offers. This is particularly useful for when the location is quite noisy.	Same as the Sony a9.
Good control of your recordings	Headphones allow you monitor and regulate the sound you are getting from your recordings, and this is a very lovely and a very welcome improvement.	Same as the Sony a9.
Convenience of use	Being a touch screen camera, the Sony a9’s functions are made pretty easy to access. Also, focusing is made easy, too.	Same as the Sony a9.
Weather sealing	A weather sealing on your camera means you can now do photo shoot sessions outdoors even when the weather is beginning to act funny, without the fear of your camera getting ruined.	Same as the Sony a9.
Great battery life	650 shots per full charge is what this camera offers, and that is pretty impressive. With this, you will be shooting for hours without having to worry about your battery dying on you.	Same as the Sony a9.
Portable	For a Pro camera, the Sony is pretty lightweight and portable. This camera weighs 1.48 pounds (673 grams), has a dimension of 5 by 2.5 by 3.8 inches, and also has an excellent grip. This is surely a camera you won’t mind holding in your palms for long.	Same as the Sony a9. However the Sony a7RIII is slightly more lightweight, weighing 1.45 pounds (657 grams), and with a dimension of 5 by 2.9 by 3.8 inches.
View images on large screen	This camera makes provision for you to view your images on bigger screens. With an HDMI cord connected to the HDMI output, you can enjoy your photos and videos on a television screen or a monitor.	Same as the Sony a9.
Slow motion	The slow motion function helps you get more creative with your shooting. But this is not available with this camera.	Same as the Sony a9.
Silent shooting	This camera allows you to shoot in absolute silence. This is particularly great for you if you are a wildlife photographer. The slightest of noises can cost you that beautiful shot, so, it is important that you stay as quiet as possible – the Sony a9 helps you achieve that.	Same as the Sony a9.

Common Cons — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

	Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
No internal flash	An internal flash is usually a camera’s primary source of lighting, but this camera does not provide. Sometimes, a camera’s internal flash is just what is needed to get a good enough image – in what case the external flash might be excess to requirement. Anyway, with the Sony a9, you either get an external flash, or get no lighting at all. Not good.	Same as the Sony a9.
No GPS	With GPS, you are able to geo-tag your photos and videos on your camera. But since the a9 does not have a built-in GPS, you, sadly, will not be able to achieve that.	Same as the Sony a9.
No panorama	This is yet another level of creativity that is available to some cameras. Well, with the a9, you won’t be able to unlock that level of creativity, lol!	Same as the Sony a9.

What Do People Think About Both Cameras — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
Photographers appear to love this camera very much. Aside from the high quality images it produces, apparently, it is an answer to the prayers of many. A couple of customers have said that they used to pray for better batteries with Sony cameras prior to this one, but the 650 shots per full charge of this seemed to be just what they had been waiting for.	Customers seem to be happy with this camera. According to them, it has a nice grip, it is of the right size, and it produces nice images, and has a great battery.
Photographers seem to love that with this camera you can shoot in silence and convenience. Many mentioned that it has a nice grip and is pretty easy to hold while you shoot. Also, people have said that the focus is pretty fast, and apparently, they love that about it.	We could say people love this camera. A lot of people have commended the fast focus. Also, many seem to be happy about the dual memory card slots. Comments and customer feedback show that this is a pretty functional and efficient camera.

Our Take — Sony a9 vs a7RIII

Sony a9	Sony a7RIII
We love that Sony got it right with the battery this time. 650 shots per full charge is actually quite very impressive.	Also with a battery capacity that allows 650 shots per full charge, we are happy with the battery of this camera, too.
There are a lot of features that make this camera just great for a whole number of activities. You have the silent shooting and which is great for wildlife photography. Articulating screen which is great for vlogging. Fast burst mode which is great for sports photography… We literally could go on and on about the many activities and professions that this camera suits. You sure can say this is a camera we love. Big ups to Sony.	This is also a really amazing mirrorless Pro camera. Though we would have wanted a faster burst mode, the 10 frames per second isn’t so terrible, after all.   We also like that silent shooting is possible with this. So, if you are an events photographer, with the Sony a7RIII, your job will no longer be an inconvenience to people. Finally, we think Sony did a really good job with this camera, and yes, we love it!

Sony a9 vs a7RIII – FAQs

Which is better: Sony a7III or a7RIII?

The Sony a7RIII and a7III are very similar cameras, but the a7RIII is the slightly better one. It has a far better sensor resolution; you will literally be getting up to 75 percent more pixels in pictures taken with this camera than in pictures taken with the a7III. It also has a 56 percent higher screen resolution and a 56 percent more accurate viewfinder.

Furthermore, the a7RIII is the better camera for flash photography as it is the only one of the two which allows you use off-camera flashes. And even in the battery department, it the a7RIII still comes out victorious. This is why it is no surprise that it costs a lot more than the a7III.

Does the Sony a9 shoot 4K?

The Sony a9 shoots 4K. It has a video resolution of 3840 x 2160 which means that it shoots 4K UHD. There is a higher 4K quality that some cameras shoot (DCI), but 4K UHD is still very impressive. And even more impressive is that the a9 shoots 4K videos at 120 frames per second; that is a high speed.

Basically, if you will be recording videos with the Sony a9, you can rest assured that you will be getting really amazing visual quality. And well, you can get equally amazing audio as this camera is compatible with headphones and external microphones.

How good is the Sony a9?

The Sony a9 is a really good and highly functional camera. It is a mirrorless camera, but boy does it do so well! In our opinion, the Sony a9 makes it into the top 20 best cameras (both mirrorless and DSLR). And in fact, it will make it into some photographers’ top 10 list. Yes, it is that good!

This camera does well in photography and also does just as well in videography. It is particularly excellent for street photography, daily photography, and portrait photography. It will also be doing well in sports and wildlife photography.

Anyway, if you are not a professional photographer, just stay away from the a9. It can be pretty complicated for a newbie and it could wreck your pocket, lol.

Is the Sony a9 good for sports photography?

The Sony a9 will do great in many different forms of photography, but it has been proven to be particularly wonderful in sports photography. And perhaps the major reason for this is its 20 frames per second speed in continuous shooting. Sports photography involves a lot of movement, so, to get the best photos, you need a fast burst mode, and that is what the a9 provides.

More so, it has a great focus system. It is fantastic in low light if it gets dark and it has a weather sealing if it is an outdoor sport. Not to forget its fast mechanical shutter which will also be helping you get the best images of moving people.

Is the Sony a7RIII good for video?

The Sony a7RIII is good for recording videos. It shoots 4K and that is really good visual quality already guaranteed. You can also get really good audio just by attaching a really good external microphone as the a7RIII comes with a jack for that.

More so, you can monitor and regulate your audio while you record with the a7RIII as it allows you use headphones with it. Not to forget this camera’s tilting screen which will make it easy for you to record conveniently from different angles.

You can also get creative with your recording thanks to the built-in time-lapse feature it comes with.

Is the Sony a7RIII good for wildlife photography?

The Sony a7RIII is good for wildlife photography. So, in the wild, animals will most likely be running free, and with the a7RIII’s 10 frames per secocnd speed in continuous shooting, you sure will be getting some really good images of those animals in motion.

More so, no matter what the weather is saying out there, you can confidently take your a7RIII as it comes with a weather sealing. This ensures that weather elements won’t be causing damage to the camera’s body.

The a7RIII also has time-lapse recording which is a good feature for making documentaries about wildlife.