

But, the Sony AX700 makes a strong case for itself with a good balance of portability and image quality. I’m not a big fan of camcorders, and I think your smartphone is an adequate substitute for many situations. Why should you buy this: Beautiful 4K footage from a large, 1-inch sensor and bright zoom lens. Read our hands-on impressions of the Sony A7S III Best 4K camcorder: Sony AX700 This may seem like a minor change, but a more efficient menu removes one of the biggest pain points we’ve had with Sony cameras.

And finally, the menu system has been completely redesigned and allows for separate photo and video settings to be stored.
SONY DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA SERIES
The autofocus system is also all-new, featuring on-chip phase-detection with face and eye-tracking that bring the A7S series in line with Sony’s other mirrorless cameras.

The sensor-shift stabilization system is good for 5.5 stops of shake deduction and works in conjunction with Sony’s optically stabilized lenses for the best results.

It’s the highest-resolution EVF from any manufacturer, and gives photographers and videographers a bright, detailed view of the scene. The Sony A7S III also boasts several features that both still and video shooters will appreciate, like the new electronic viewfinder that boasts over 9 million pixels. One common use for this would be to combine two external mics with the camera’s built-in stereo mic. When using the optional XLR microphone adapter, the camera can save four independent audio channels internally. However, even the best video camera is nothing without great audio, and the A7S III also delivers here. That should mean even greater dynamic range and color depth when paired with an Atomos Ninja V or other RAW-capable external recorder. If you opt to record externally over the HDMI port, the A7S III can pipe out 16-bit RAW video. Video can be recorded in either h.264 or h.265 compression at up to 280 megabits per second, or in a new all-intraframe codec at up to 600Mbps, which will result in larger files but will be less intensive on your computer when it comes to editing.īut it gets even better. Combined with either Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) or Sony’s S-Log3 color profiles, that means the A7S III is now ready for high dynamic range (HDR) production. Where previous Sony mirrorless cameras were limited to 8-bit video, the A7S III finally gains 10-bit 4:2:2 color - all the way up to 4K/120. Even at 4.2K, the camera can record 60 frames per second, but you’ll have to drop to regular 4K to hit 120 fps.Īside from the sensor resolution, everything else about this camera has changed, starting with how video is processed. Measuring 4,240 pixels wide, the sensor actually delivers 4.2K video, although you can opt for basic 4K with a slight, 1.1X crop.
SONY DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA ISO
It is a new sensor, however, now backside-illuminated and with a lower base ISO of 80, features that should slightly improve noise levels and dynamic range. Like the A7S II before it, it uses a 12-megapixel full-frame sensor. Sony didn’t completely rewrite the formula for the A7S III. Who’s it for: Those who aren’t afraid to drop some cash for great image quality. Why should you buy this: Exceptional, full-frame 4K video quality.
