Sony a9 III Review: A Costly Revolution in Camera Technology

No camera is as exciting or interesting as the Sony a9 III. Since Sony announced it in early November, the a9 III has occupied considerable space in my mind. Many questions have swirled since, and the answers to each have proved mercurial.

How does the $6,000 a9 III’s global shutter sensor affect image quality? Do people need this much speed? How do we evaluate a successor that is somehow both better and worse than its predecessor? What photos can people create with the a9 III that have been impossible before?

I’ve been reviewing cameras for about a decade; I’ve never grappled with so many questions or struggled to this degree to answer them. The Sony a9 III is in a class of its own in this way and many more, often for the better and, on rare but significant occasions, for the worse.

For Sony shooters, it is unsurprising that the a9 III, like many Sony cameras before, features what Sony promises are ergonomic refinements. These are frequently such minor tweaks that they barely warrant mention. However, in the a9 III’s case, Sony has made notable improvements.

One can be forgiven for not immediately noticing these changes. After all, Sony’s a1, a7, and a9 series cameras are near-identical siblings. However, the a9 III, as “samey” as it looks at first glance, is one of Sony’s most dramatic departures in design.

The redesigned grip has a deeper indent for your middle finger and offers noticeably more purchase for your hand overall. Alongside a steep forward angle to the shutter release, the camera is more comfortable than a camera like the a1. The relatively minor body shape changes deliver a significantly better shooting experience.

As far as other controls, there’s not much new, but Sony did add a fifth custom button to the front of the a9 III, which offers quick access to the camera’s “Speed Boost” function by default — more on that later.