Sony A7S III PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Sony Alpha 7S III? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Sony makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the A7S III offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Sony Alpha 7S III below.
In any case, the A7S III is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was officially introduced on July 28th, 2020, which means that, as of today, the camera is 1367 days old (young?). Given that the A7S III is a relatively recent model, it forms part of the current Sony product line-up.
Sony's instruction manual for the A7S III
The camera's instruction manual is 96 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the A7S III is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Sony Alpha 7S III manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Sony's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Sony A7S III manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Sony Alpha 7S III
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your A7S III by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Sony A7S III is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Sony A7S III FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A7S III.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Sony A7S III?
The camera is build around a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A7S III to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A7S III with the BIONZ XR image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A7S III?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 40-409600.
Does the Sony A7S III have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the A7S III is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha 7S III?
Sony mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the A7S III. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the A7S III over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A7S III?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A7S III has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Sony A7S III?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A7S III?
The A7S III offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A7S III feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A7S III for flash photography?
The A7S III's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Sony A7S III support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards, which provide for data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s, in both of its card slots.
Which battery does the Sony A7S III use?
The camera gets its power from the Sony NP-FZ100 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Sony A7S III?
Yes, Sony offers the VG-C3EM as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the Sony A7S III?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Sony.
Further reading
How does the A7S III stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 6D vs Sony A9 II
- Canon R6 vs Sony A7S III
- Fujifilm XP130 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon Coolpix A vs Sony A7S III
- Nikon D70 vs Sony A7S III
- Nikon Z9 vs Sony A7S III
- Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A58 vs Sony A7S III
- Sony A6500 vs Sony A7S III
- Sony A9 II vs Sony A99
- Sony A9 II vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Sony A9 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Sony Alpha 7S III.
Camera Model | Sony A7S III | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
Launch Date | July 2020 | |
Launch Price | USD 3 499 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.6 x 23.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 847 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 42.8 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 240 x 2 832 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 8.40 μm | |
Pixel Density | 1.42 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/120p Video | |
ISO Setting | 80 - 102 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 40 - 409 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ XR | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 86 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.7 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.9 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2520 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.91x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 9440k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1440k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 10 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | CFexA or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | Dual UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 3.2 | |
HDMI Port | full HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Sony NP-FZ100 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 600 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
127 x 97 x 81 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.2 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 699 g (24.7 oz) |
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