Sony has just announced the new a9 III full frame global shutter mirrorless camera. Here is a quick specs comparison of Sony a9 III (Amazon/B&H/Adorama) with Canon EOS R5 (Amazon/B&H/Adorama) and Nikon Z8 (Amazon/B&H/Adorama).
| Specifications | Sony a9 III | Canon EOS R5 | Nikon Z8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Price | $5,998 | $3,899 | $3,996.95 |
| Sensor Resolution | 24.6MP | 45MP | 45.7MP |
| Shutter Type | Electronic Global Shutter | Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter | Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Image Stabilization | 5-Axis Sensor-Shift | 5-Axis Sensor-Shift | 5-Axis Sensor-Shift |
| Max Continuous Shooting | 120fps at 24.6MP | 20fps at 45MP | 30fps at 45.7MP |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Shutter 1/80000 to 30 Seconds 1/8000 to 1 Second in Movie Mode |
Mechanical Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Seconds Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Seconds Electronic Shutter 1/8000 to 0.5 Seconds |
Electronic Shutter 1/32000 to 30 Seconds 0 to 900 Seconds in Manual Mode |
| Max Video Resolution | 4K | 8K | 8K |
| Metering Range | -5 to 17 EV | -3 to 20 EV | -3 to 17 EV |
| Autofocus Sensitivity | -5 to 20 EV | -6 to 20 EV | -9 to 19 EV |
| Viewfinder | 0.64″ 9.4M-dot OLED | 0.5″ 5.76M-dot OLED | 0.5″ 3.69M-dot OLED |
| Rear Screen | 3.2″ 2.1M-dot tilting touchscreen | 3.2″ 2.1M-dot articulating touchscreen | 3.2″ 2.1M-dot tilting touchscreen |
| Autofocus Points | 759 PDAF (photo), 627 PDAF (video) | 1053 PDAF | 493 PDAF |
| ISO Range | Photo 250 to 25,600 in Manual Mode (Extended: 125 to 51,200) 250 to 12,800 in Auto Mode Video 250 to 25,600 in Manual Mode 250 to 12,800 in Auto Mode |
Photo 100 to 51,200 (Extended: 50 to 102,400) Video 100 to 25,600 (Extended: 51,200) |
Photo/Video 64 to 25,600 (Extended: 32 to 102,400) |
| Built-in Flash | No | No | No |
| Max Sync Speed | 1/80,000s | 1/250s | 1/200s |
| Video File Format | XAVC HS/XAVC S 4:2:2 10-bit, H.264/H.265 | H.264/H.265 | H.264/H.265 |
| Storage Media | 2x (CFexpress A, SD UHS-II) | 2x (CFexpress B, SD UHS-II) | 2x (CFexpress/XQD, SD UHS-II) |
| Battery Life | 400 shots | 340 shots | 340 shots |
| Dimensions | 5.4 x 3.8 x 3.3″ | 5.43 x 3.84 x 3.46″ | 5.7 x 4.7 x 3.3″ |
| Weight | 1.4 lb | 1.62 lb | 1.8 lb |
Summary:
The new Sony a9 III sets itself apart from the Canon EOS R5 and Nikon Z8 competition with impressive capabilities optimized for sports, wildlife and action photographers. With a stacked 24MP sensor capable of silent 20fps shooting with no blackout, the a9 III offers incredible speed not matched by the Canon or Nikon. The global electronic shutter provides distortion-free images at up to 1/80,000s shutter speed, enabling new creative possibilities.
Sony also edges out the rivals in autofocus sensitivity, hitting an remarkable -5EV compared to -6EV on the EOS R5 and -9EV on the Z8. This allows reliable AF lock even in near pitch black conditions. The a9 III viewfinder provides a crisp high resolution EVF for clear eye-level viewing.
At the end, the a9 III delivers professional-grade performance and features designed for speed, accuracy and endurance. For photographers who need a rugged, reliable camera capable of capturing the decisive moment, the Sony a9 III stands out as the top choice in this price segment. It handily outpaces the R5 and Z8 in continuous shooting, shutter speed, AF sensitivity and blackout-free shooting.