For those that own a Sony A7iii, here is your ultimate reference point to answer some of the most common questions about the camera.
Does the a7iii have a full-frame sensor?
Yes, the Sony A7iii is a full-frame, mirrorless hybrid camera that shots both photos and videos. If there are any questions missing, please feel free to contact us and we will add it to the list.
Does the a7iii shoot 8bit or 10bit video?
Unfortunately not, this camera can only shoot 4K 8-bit footage. The newer Sony a7Siii and Sony a7iv shoot 10-bit 4K video. Whether or not 8bit or 10bit is important to you really depends on what you are shooting and what type of look do you need.
How do I set a custom white balance?
In order to set custom white balance for your scene for this Sony camera, you will need a grey card or something similar. If you don't, anything that is pure white (eg. a plain piece of paper) could do the job for you. You need to open up the menu, and go to the first screen, and then the 9th page. See the screenshot here:
Once there, scroll down the left hand side until you get to the set option:
Now you we will see a circle in the middle of the screen, that is where you need to place the white object or grey card in front of so that the camera stores the white balance for the rest of the time you are using the camera. The button to press is not the shutter button, but the one in the middle of the jog wheel on the right hand side of the screen. (Just thought we would make that point because we constantly press the shutter button).
Your custom white balance is now set and you can get on with your photos or video.
What lenses do I need for an A7iii?
Depending on what you shoot, any E-mount lens will do the trick. These are offered not only by Sony but other popular third party manufacturers as well. There is a mixture of manual and auto focus lenses, stills and cinema lens (with T-stops instead of F-stops) - it's really up to you as to what you will choose.
When it comes to adapting Sony lenses to other cameras, or other lenses to a Sony camera, it can be done only with certain types.
How do you charge a Sony a7iii
This is a bit of a tricky one, as the camera did not include an official charger in the box - The Sony BCQZ1 Z-Series Battery Charger (affiliate link). This leaves you with a couple of options if you do not want to buy an additional charger once you have the camera:
- Charge by micro-USB cable - this is included in the box, and if you had any non-iPhone phone chargers lying around, or other gadgets, those power bricks will be able to do the job. Obviously it takes a lot longer to do so compared to the official charger.
- Power supply through USB-C - there is also a USB-C port on the Sony a7iii but that can only hold power, not actually charge the battery inside the camera. This could be good for studio shoots, but not when out and about. The best solution is just to keep a micro USB in your camera bag.
When did the Sony a7iii come out?
The camera was first announced in February 2018, and was available to purchase from April 2018.
How do I check my cameras shutter count?
The shutter count is basically like the odometer reading in your car - it gives an indication of how much it has been used and abused. The Sony cameras have shutter counts that are in the hundreds of thousands, with no specific number given for the a7iii.
The main reason you would want to know this number is if you go to sell your camera later on, this number is helpful for the prospective buyer to know.
To check, the easiest thing to do is go take a photo, upload it to an online tool such as https://www.camerashuttercount.com/ and they will give you back a number based on the meta data in the photo (note: make sure it is a RAW file).