The long-awaited Sony a speedster could arrive soon.
Sony Alpha Rumors has long reported on the speculated Sony A9 III, and has now confirmed unequivocally that the latest A9-series device will be shown next month.
The groundbreaking A9 series pioneered’stacked’ sensor technology, which is now found in the Sony A1, Nikon Z9 and Z8 cameras, and the Fujifilm X-H2S; all cameras that provide quick sensor read-out and next-level speed. As a result, we may anticipate Sony’s latest speedster, the rumored A9 III, to provide the finest performance for professional sports and wildlife photography.
The A9 III’s burst shooting should rival or exceed that of the flagship Sony A1, with the latest AI-powered subject recognition autofocus to boot, and without the price tag. Let’s take a look at some of the rumored headline features of what may be one of the best professional cameras yet.
Sony A9 III Release Date and Price Rumors
According to a recent Sony Alpha Rumors post, the A9 III will be available in early to mid-November.
The Sony A9 II was initially priced at $4,500 / ₹374,531.85, which is roughly 25% less than the Sony A1. We hope the A9 III isn’t any more expensive than the A9 II, but it could be closer to $5,000 / ₹416,146.5.
Sony A9 III: Sony A1 specs?
The primary features stated for the speculated A9 III in another post from Sony Alpha Rumors include an all-new 44MP full-frame stacked sensor with a maximum burst speed of 26fps – likely employing the electronic shutter with full-time auto exposure and autofocus.
A 44MP sensor would be a significant improvement over the A9 II’s 24MP sensor, almost approaching the 50MP resolution of the Sony A1. Normally, there is a trade-off between resolution and speed, but Sony, as with its A1, may have found a way to give both.
It stands to be seen whether any increase in resolution would have a negative impact on the performance of a rumored A9 III in low light compared to the A9 II; nonetheless, having extra pixels to play with is especially useful if you need to cut into your photographs.
Stacked sensor technology improves sensor readout speed and reduces or eliminates the negative effect of rolling shutter when using an electronic shutter rather than a mechanical shutter, allowing action cameras like the Nikon Z9 and Sony A1 to benefit from the superior burst rates of an electronic shutter. However, with a hypothetical resolution increase, the anticipated A9 III would struggle to push faster than 30fps without some real Sony grunt.
Video performance is also expected to improve significantly, with the A9 III rumored to support 8K / 60p and 4K 120p video. This might make it a serious contender for cameras like the Nikon Z8 and Z9, as well as the Sony A1. In fact, if the speculated headline features are accurate, the A9 III appears to be a cheaper version of the A1, comparable to how the Z8 compares to the more expensive Z9.
Other probable Sony A9 III : updates
Because of the performance of its stacked sensor in enhancing sensor readout speed, the Nikon Z9 did away with the mechanical shutter entirely. Could Sony follow suit and get rid with the movable mechanical shutter? It would be a major step.
Speaking of huge movements, may Sony include a vertical grip in the reported A9 III, similar to the Z9? The more likely scenario is that the camera will have a similar tiny body to its predecessor, with an optional battery grip to bulk out the camera and enhance battery life. A larger body, on the other hand, is better suited to distribute heat generated by shooting video for extended periods of time, which might make the A9 III very desirable to filmmakers seeking 8K video performance without sacrifice. It would also make place for a larger and longer-lasting battery, which might serve as another point of differentiation between the A9 III and the A1.
The A9 II should have a better EVF than the A9. That camera features a 3.69m-dot display, whereas Sony’s A7R V viewfinder has a 9.44m-dot display – a reasonable expectation for a future flagship model. A minimum requirement of the display, regardless of EVF resolution, is that it be blackout-free during burst shooting.
Another feature that the speculated A9 III will inherit from the A7R V is its AI-powered autofocus processor, which will increase the number of observable subjects in a wider range of circumstances.
No matter what form the anticipated A9 III takes, it will be a camera powerhouse.
