Sony a9 III: The Truth on Image Quality | Dynamic Range & ISO

#SonyA9III #ImageQuality #DynamicRange #ISOTest #SpeedTest #Photography #Videography
Wondering if the Sony a9 III lives up to its speed and low-light prowess?

In this video, I put the a9 III through its paces testing the dynamic range, ISO performance, and autofocus speed. We explore its strengths and weaknesses, revealing its true potential for capturing breathtaking photos and videos in various lighting scenarios.

Here's what you'll discover:

Dynamic range capabilities: Can the a9 III handle high-contrast scenes without blowing out highlights or losing detail in shadows?
ISO performance: How well does the a9 III handle low-light situations without introducing excessive noise?
Autofocus speed and accuracy: Can you capture fast-paced action with confidence?
Plus, we'll share valuable tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Sony a9 III's image quality.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Performance (Image Quality, 120fps, Autofocus)
09:15 ISO Test
12:48 Build Quality & Design
13:26 Who This Camera is For
15:24 Video Performance
16:39 What Could be Improved
20:29 Conclusion

My Gear:
Camera: Sony A9III, Sony FE 16-35 f/2.8 GM II
Sennheiser AVX
MacStudio M2 MAX
Mac Studio Display
Lights: Aputure 300X Amaran T2c, Amaran F21c, Amaran COB 60X, Amaran P60c
Display Cabinet: Terravault
Chair and Desk: SecretLab

[FrankDiNardi]

The funniest part about all these test is that the customers who get delivered these images most likely have no clue what ISO and dynamic range is.
I have worked for hundreds and hundreds of different companies, real estate agents, restaurants, you name it and this issue has been brought up not a single time ever.
We critique these cameras too hard sometimes I think.

[Firebirdsqn]

Great video, you helped me make my decision. The other's on YouTube put it down but you showed it's abilities. Thanks

[RalfWeyer]

Thank you for that video and especially for the open words in the summary. Finally someone who understands and clearly communicates this being the first camera of that type and future developments from all manufacturers including Sony only getting better!

[RadAlzyoud]

Agreed, Bobby. I use Nikon but Sony has done a great job with this camera. Thx

[richards]

That zf image though. So nice even at higher iso!

[HesselFolkertsma]

I don’t understand the noise/DR complaints. #nobadcameras these days, is my mantra. Beautiful photography was captured back in the 2000’s with the earliest of DSLR’s and it was fine.

[stevendente]

As always, an excellent, rational video based on keeping photography, needs and biases in the proper context. I enjoyed it, thanks for the good work.

[andreafranzius]

An interesting and balanced review with a fine conclusion, Matt. It's good to hear how many different improvements Sony has lavished upon this camera, I wasn't aware of that. However, and here it comes, the first sample pictures of the Sony A9 III I saw were dpreview's, and I found especially their sports files with higher (but not super high) ISOs in difficult indoor lighting to be looking very flat with disappointingly poor colours and skin tones and quite a bit of grain and visible smear, showing what seemed to be a very noticeably poor dynamic range and perhaps also lack of resolution. Your files in good outdoor light with perhaps also better exposure (!) look better than those, however. But if this presumed sports camera cannot produce images of stunning quality especially in difficult indoor lighting, but just insane speed, I think that other current cameras like the Nikon Z9 and Z8 may remain a better choice at this point as they are fast enough to freeze any action with many more pixels to crop and noticeably better IQ in all situations. However, I'm sure that this new technology will improve as all technology does. Nikon itself actually points into this direction with its very recent acquisition of RED, now owning the rights to RED's cinematic global shutter - with its supposedly good (but again not class leading) DR and IQ.

[waynerm]

Hey Bobby, when looking at the photos, I stopped the video to check them out and B & C cameras did well in the ISO test. Finding out after that they were Leica SL2 and Nikon Zf, didn't surprise me. I've recently been trying out DxO Photo Lab 7 and trying the different camera profiles on the Z8 RAW files, I like the look of Leica and Hasselblad profiles, more contrasty colors while cutting back on the highlights. The Panasonic and Sony had more noise at the higher ISO, which can be cleaned up but, one would have hoped for better performance straight out of camera. That being said, the Z8 has noise at that level as well, most people don't shoot at that level a lot. This makes me think more about getting a Zf. Thanks for the video.

[juansalenko]

I bought a used A9iii this week, I been using A9i since release. I was a bit worried about the high ISO performance. I shot some pictures in really bad light on Friday with 8000 ISO. Reading other reviews I thought that the A9iii would be worse than the old A9 when it came to noise. But I was surprised to see that it performed with np at 8000 ISO. The pictures was a bit dull tho but I just added more pop when editing the pictures. But yeah only used at once really, but was way better with noise than I thought it would be

[rk_bullet]

Wow... How I missed this amazing channel until today 😞
Such a brilliant review 👏

[sryoung]

I totally agree with your summary, thank you and well done.

[MadefromJava]

I used the a9iii at a high school basketball game and the 120fps was 🤯 I had to switch to 30fps after the first quarter due to storage constraints. I had no issues with buffer with my cf express a card. For my use case the camera is overkill, but it has all the features I wanted and I can eliminate bringing multiple camera bodies while traveling.

[DavidGomez-qp]

hi Bobby, thanks for the honest review. i was wondering if there's by chance the possibility to share some high iso wildlife (birds or whatever) raw files to see how they come up after processing. I have the A9 and I'm planning on upgrading my camera and I'm not sure if i should buy the A9iii or stick to a higher resolution camera. What makes the A9iii attractive to me it's the AF system. However, i want to take a look on how the details are captured and how ISO looks on the actual files and once processed. Thank you :)

[renestaempfli]

Bobby, thanks for your open and realistic review of the A9III. I own an A9 for 6 Years, an A1 for 3 Years and now the A9III. I photograph sports, fast action and concerts. I have no issues with noise and DR. I am not a pixel peeper. I shot pictures that transport emotions. When it comes to flash photography, this camera will revolutionise flash photography. I have tested the camera with Elinchrom, Broncolor Satos and SONY HVL-60RM2. The performance of HVL-60RM2 together with the A9III, compared with very high end flashes, is simply amazing. You can shoot up to 120 Pic/sec, 1/16000, F/1.4 and ISO 250. You feel, you are in a Disco. The repetition rate of the flash is so fast. And all the pictures are tack sharp, without a single miss.

[LT]

The C camera was noticeably cleaner at higher ISO, I think that was the Zf. Basically, this camera is best for sports/action, which makes sense. For other uses, you could make a better choice.

[rolandrickphotography]

I use the ProGrade CFE Type A with 480 GB and I’m happy. Lossless compressed RAWL it stores > 9999 images. They also have a 2 cards bundle with a discount already included. I only can repeat what you already said, the by so many channels discussed „ISO issue“ doesn’t really exist. I must admit I use it only in bright daylight and slightly overcast for wildlife photography and I am also definitely not a Sony fan boy, I have a Nikon history, my D6 and D850 will never be sold, I also do portrait and landscape with a Leica SL2-S and Hasselblad X2D. I wished Sony finally added the possibility to do all firmware updates by the body and no longer by that really bad update procedure by that update software, Mac users know what I‘m talking about, Windows users don’t get it how much that update software violates the computer’s security and safety, FYC on a Mac you must do those violations manually before you can use the software. The body itself can meanwhile be updated by an update image which can be copied to the card. But lens updates still must be done by the update software. To be able to use all advanced of the a9iii, you have to update probably all of your lenses. No such hassles with Nikon, Leica and Hasselblad, all updates can be done „in body“.

[HK-NYC]

Thanks. Ordering the A9 III this weekend. Just wondering if the L-Plates for my A1 will also fit the A9 III. Do they?

[andersistbesser]

Of course exposing right makes good pictures but the wonderful thing with great dynamic range is that the picture does not break down if conditions are NOT perfect like it happens often in real life. I think a9 s apsc camera range still is good enough but the missing dual iso hurts.

[CliftonCinematics]

Hey the Pagani Utopia! I saw you the other day along the hotel lobby, wanted to say hi -- Was chasing after the other Pagani that was leaving outside though!