That's why we love Hugh... a dying breed unfortunately :-( (not that Hugh is dying, that was just a saying, lol). I appreciate him always taking the time to write a script and his ability to eloquently read from the prompter, yet ad lib and go off script , and the "hold that thought". He literally has turned topics we all find fascinating (which normally geeky and too technical) into artsy-techno-poetry. Axle Rose said it best: "We've been dancing with.. Mr. Brown-stone.." lol
Hey, all. I’m pinning this comment to the top. Thanks for your suggestions and observations re overheating outside in hot weather. I am working directly with Sony to get this sorted. Which, by the way, has always been my experience with them: good people focused on solving problems and appreciative of feedback. The unit may be defective, or the solution may be as simple as keeping the rear panel swung out from the body. Dan Watson (a fellow TH-camr and bud I hold in high regard) has had the same issue down in Florida with a different pre-production unit.. So far, on the unit I have, changing the auto power off temp setting to high has not solved the problem. Late yesterday afternoon, I tried to record with the rear screen open 180 degrees (or as close as possible - it was a few degrees less). I stopped recording 59 minutes in ( already a significantly better result) as the sun had lowered enough in the sky to introduce a second variable. Will try once more today to hold all variables constant except for the rear panel being open. Stay tuned. If that is all that it takes, I will be satisfied that we could do everything with the a7s III that we want and have done with our GH5 - and, of course more save for IBIS performance. If not, we’ll repeat the test with a production unit. Again, thanks for being so engaged in a constructive way. More details: 10-bit 4:2:2 4K/24p XAVC-S (h.264)
Did you change your setting for the high temp in the menu? If you don't do that the camera will use a much lower treshold before shutting down. Always use "high" mode.
One of the main reason for me as I am very interested in this camera is the 12MP sensor - Don't get me wrong I am doing a lot of promotional photography but the high resolution is making my workflow much slower. Most of the time I use my photos for Instagram and Facebook and TH-cam - for these platforms 12MP is more than enough - anything higher I would have to undergo the painful process of downsampling the image. Photoshop filters or whatever processing software you are using - is gonna be much faster with just a 12MP image. And the other reason is I am doing shooting videos for a living and this is the best we got - but I would rather shoot in storage-saving 4k 60p with HVEC codec - than all intra or 120p. The 60p is an advantage if you are looking for a smooth video. Between 24p and 30p you can clearly see if you are not using an ND filter - but at 60p and above we can simply interpret the footage to 24p and it looks much smoother. Of course, an ND filter would be the best if you are going for slow-motion videos - but 60 frames and above you can hardly see a difference. Outdoor changing filters can be a risk for your front glass - I'd prefer to have my filter on all times while I am outside - especially in humid or dusty environments. And not needing an ND filter is quite convenient - just leave on a POL or BlackProMist filter.
If TH-cam gave awards for presentation performance/acting excellence, you’re it. You’re a better performer than many male leading actors in Hollywood films, hands down. Nicely performed and technically precise in camera capabilities/specs. Bravura!👏👏👏👏👏
When I want to listen to an unbiased view on camera gear and some carefully put together thoughts, I visit Three Blind Men and An Elephant and get lost in Hugh's voice and thoughts.
422 internal is kinda sexy. But what a trade...your in for lots of cash for a result that most people can’t see. I could get excited about something that was a talisman. But although this is a very nice hammer its still a hammer. I love the form factor of m4/3... small cool lenses, longer battery life and less overhead all around. GH5 is still a great hammer that pounds a nail very well for 95% of anything most people need. I’d save the money for the “fun” camera.
@@asafblasbergvideographer The GH5 has a much lower processing load and clearly has adequate heat dissipating ability for that load - you can fit lots of heat management in such a large M4/3 body.
@@asafblasbergvideographer size def can help dissipate heat. But it is too easy to just tilt the display a tad and allow the heat to not build up. On top of that im not a fan of these type of tests, where they just slap the camera on a tripod and hit record... There is nothing causing the camera to have to find a subject and adjust focus, no challenges on exposures changes, no movements that require stabilization, etc. Gerald Undone actually put through camera through its paces during that test as well as doing stationary tests. Back to the cooling design, from what I can tell its passive (no fan) , uses specific metals and ceramics and essentially turns the entire body into a heat sync. A big part of that design might be having the screen tilted off the body or it would be like keeping a winter hat on working out in the sun. Another major difference that could lead to overheating in some cases, is that the a7S3 is a significantly larger sensor and due to its superior AF and other features, requires 2 newer processors, likely doing an order of magnitude around 10 times more processing. Would be interesting to see someone do a deep dive on your question, because I can only speculate until my a7S3 comes in. Lastly, remember everyone has pre-release versions of the hardware and software and there has been a few units with defects. So until the hw/sw is finalized and the quality controls can be implemented before shipping, I wouldnt be concerned about a small percentage of issues. 95% of the review ive seen tried to overheat it and couldn't, one (Potato Jet) actually put it in an oven so that doesnt count. But the vast majority seem fine. Versus, the overheating with the R5 is real and has to be managed. And there is no fixing that with firmware. The GH5 is a work horse, as will be the a7S3, but the GH5 has had much more time in peoples hands and has been in its final state for awhile now. Unless you are needing 4k/120p or the upcoming 16bit RAW, I would just stay the course
I'm considering jumped from the GH5/GH5s to the a7siii/a7riii. Do you know if there is a "crop button" to punch in while shooting 1080p? Would be great to get a closer shot while filming live
The voice of reason we all need to hear once again. Thanks Hugh. Its a case of want not need, and you're right to point out the insignificance of these camera releases in the current climate. I'm sticking with my GH5 and GH5S. I still don't want to do handheld video with sub par IBIS and heavy lenses, and for me that's the bottom line. Nothing beats the GH5 for all day handheld shooting.
I bought my S1H last month knowing the rumor of Sony coming out . but when I first saw the S1H , Not even knowing the full specs . just seeing the footage and the Design , I had fell in love . I somehow feel that this camera is special compared to any other camera, so I’m happy with no regrets.
Same! I bought the S1H the day the R5 was announced. And now that Sony finally updated their camera line up, I feel like there’s now something for everyone to enjoy.
It's the only hybrid approved for Netflix productions. That should tell you who the camera is geared for and what it's capable of. Most of the video cameras on the list are 3x and much more the price of the S1H. Only the Blackmagic Mini URSA is only $2k more but 2x the weight and size. At least. And it's not a hybrid either. Nothing else on the list is actually. I think the S1H is fantastic and would love to get one. But I know then I'll get the S1R and more lenses and....
Thanks for the review. if the A7S3 shuts-down on overheat, can it be used for a lower quality video function - immediate after tuning it on after shutdown?
That point about record times on the street/outdoors is one I wish more reviewers made, it can be such an important make-or-break datapoint. I'd argue it's one of the biggest ones flat-out.
@@Maxime-ho9iv That's true, it's no GH5 but it also seems far from an R5, or the issues of the earlier A7 models. All in all, still looks great but I think you'd want an S1H for reliability if full frame warm environment video shooting is something you do a lot, if just for peace of mind. Still looks like a great option generally, definitely going to be many people's camera of choice for good reason.
It might have to do with the fact that swiveling the display to not trap heat behind it is something fellow reviewers do automatically, knowing previous Sony's. It bears consideration to make this little adjustment for hot conditions.
Yes Hugh owns Sony cameras and is aware of that setting. I think it was due to having the display right against the body. Which I never do on any 4K camera, jist makes sense to me to keep it tilted slightly, as you can feel the heat at that part of the camera. So keeping the display flat against the back not only keeps heat in, but makes you have to tilt yourself to see the display better. Only time my display is flat is when it is being transported or being stored.
@@stefantasic9271 That is most definitely my top pick for what happened, but still I would have my screen tilted on any small body camera, even it doesn't "overheat" it probably still gets hotter than you probably want it to. No telling what that does for the longevity of the device. This is a trade off of small body, large sensor, lots of processing, high bitrates, advanced AF, etc; There is going to be heat involved, best to help it dissipate IMHO. But you are correct, high probably it was a dud. The quality controls for pre-releases are immature at that stage of production and there are a lot of variables of unknown at that time.
In regards to temp shutting down...I just watched Gerald Undone's video, he seemed to not have any problems with shutting down. I wonder if humidity is an issue.
It overheated twice for Dan Watson.. See his tests. I stick with my S1, it’s lowlight performance is more then enough and I doubt a7siii is more then 1 stop better, not that it matters for me.
Great video mate, love your reviews. Questions: How is the IBIS for video compared to the Gh5 or G9? I noticed you said the GH5 is better, but how better is that? Is it something dramatic or just a bit better? Cheers mate from Australia
Thought provoking as usual!👏🏾 I have had the same conversation in my head for the S1H, the R5 and 6, but relented with the A7SIII. My decision to preorder it is based not on it replacing my GH5 system but to complement it as being my B cam for such situations as low light or needing a dedicated gimbal camera. I love the GH5 and my EF glass and I see no reason to abandon them just because there is a new camera in town! When the GH6 arrives, I shall be all in!😄🙏🏾
I have a G9. I'd like have a nice full-frame set up to complete my toolbox. I just can't decide with the new cameras that came out in 2020. It is nice not to be in a hurry. I am going to check it out very carefully.
I cancelled my preorder because I have decided to let the dust settle, watch new reviews with actual production cameras and my pro camera shop has offered to let me test all the cameras when they get them in! I too can wait to make an informed choice! 😀
How's the audio on this a7s III, or any of the a7 series? I play acoustic guitar and have been looking for the right digital camera to record home sessions. Currently using a Rode NT4 stereo mic plugged directly into a Sony a57 to capture the guitar sound. The HD video quality is passable, but the preamp on the a57 kinda sucks for audio. Recommendations?
No matter how good a camera’s preamps, a dedicated recorder is better. On the lower end, we.’be had good experience with the TASCAM DR70-D. At 2-3x the price, Sound Design’s Pre-Mix 3 II would be my first suggestion.
@Kevin Barnard I agree with Hugh. Pick up an external recorder. The two he suggested are great. This would be a much more cost effective solution that would offer very high quality and would not require you to always use the camera for your recordings. My preference would also be the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II. Preamp & ADC/DAC quality, features, and ergonomics are better IMO (I have the MixPre-10 II). Having said that, I've captured some fantastic recordings of my sax and drums/percussion with the older Zoom H6 combined with CAD E100S, Lewitt LCT-550, or Samar VL-37A ribbon mics. The Zoom H6 also worked excellently as my stereo drum overhead mics using its included X/Y Mic capsules. It also comes with a Mid/Side mic capsule. I also used the H6 with the X/Y or M/S capsules as the ambient "room" mics placed 6 or more feet away, and one or two of my condenser mics as the "close" guitar mics. Really nice when blended. And the Lewitt LCT-340 SDC mic is excellent for acoustic guitar as well. The *Zoom H6* happens to be On Sale for $100 OFF right now at B&H... www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967366-REG/zoom_h6_handy_audio_recorder.html But if you have the extra cash, the Sound Devices MixPre II-series are better quality overall. However, I doubt you'd benefit from or discern the difference if all you are doing is TH-cam videos, though. It's not night & day, but if you have a Hi-Res audio monitoring setup or very good headphones or IEMs & DAC/Amp, you will probably notice just a bit of difference, including the noise floor. And it's quite easy to sync your separate audio tracks to your video these days. I think the Sony A7SIII would be overkill for your use unless you have the extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to significantly up your game, and/or plan to do a lot of other video work with it as well. Also remember that you'd probably want to invest in a new good lens or two to match the improved quality of the camera itself, as well some extra batteries, new memory cards, accessories, etc. This all adds up... And you could probably buy another nice Gibson, Taylor, or other acoustic guitar with that money. And either the MixPre or Zoom units will work independently as a separate USB audio interface with your computer. I'm not sure if the Tascam will do that but most likely it would as well. I am also very interested in the audio quality and performance of the new A7SIII, seeing as it has the direct digital audio interface via the hot shoe and the XLR adapter. It will come down to the quality and performance of the ADC & DAC in the Sony as well as the mic preamps in the XLR input adapter (which should be "decent" considering its asking price). If you can wait a bit, I would keep a close eye on *Curtis Judd's* TH-cam channel for a review on the Audio Performance of the A7SIII. ;)
Did you pick up on the dual iso that they don't seem to mention ? It seems there is a noticeable switch at 16,000 iso and it's cleaner than anything above 3,200.
Thanks for the 'in the sun tests'! Your rant about what you'd rather have sounded like you'd like a cinema camera though... Yeah, Sony didn't quite match up w/ Panasonic's S1H features... or a true cinema camera. I guess I don't know how you could truly be disappointed in a mirrorless camera with these features at this size and price.
That depth-of-field equalization with the GH-5...yeah...wow...that says a LOT about the relative performance differences...or the lack therof...between sensor sizes. Gawd...if Panasonic had better C-AF, their cameras could be the total bomb. I'd love to hear the lead engineer's reasoning, who decided way back when, when they decided to go down the DFD AF route as opposed to phase-detection. Man what a (negative?) consequential choice that was.
Conspiracies about Sony intentionally crippling the sensor aside, could it be that DFD is better suited for manual work? (Serious question, because Im using mainly manual with my Panys) Hold that...
William Salopek , I am not sure but I think Sony developed the sensor and phase detect auto focus. They either did not want to license the use to Lumix or Lumix did not want to pay the fee.
@@dude1diligence Manual focus is manual, right? Has nothing to do with autofocus? I don't see where DFD makes manual focus any better...a person is not using ANY autofocus when manually focusing...or maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying?
@@Bill-NM hi, I think what Michael is saying and I suspect too is Sony not giving Pany the full potential of their sensor. I think there is sensor hardware difference between CDAF and Hybrid CDAF/PDAF senor used by Olympus. And maybe as u said, Pany choose to stick with CDAF even though Olympus moved on to Hybrid AF. My suspicion also that Hybrid needs more processing power and might overheat or sacrifice video output. Pany then chose CDAF (Dfd) to give very solid video recording capabilities, albeit at the expense of solid AF. So in the end, it meant Pany pleased the crowd who used manual anyway, at the expense of those who needed AF in video. For stills alone, Pany cdaf(dfd) has no downsides vs cdaf/hybrid sensors. So in the end, Pany might have intentionally chose that niche, which is smart too. Then when technology n R&D catches up, ie. Able to cope with processing PDAF for video while keeping overheating under control while maintaining weather sealing without active cooling...then Pany might introduce PDAF for greatly improved AF to please the other crowd as well. This is my own uneducated and 2 sense speculation. Hope u understand the mess I wrote.
Curious that B&H had no heat problems on their side, also shooting under the sun. Same for Gerald Undone which was able to record for 2 hours at 4k60p with an ambient temperature of 32C/90F, up until the battery died.
@quyeno @Guillaume Briand Hugh mentioned in other replies that he will redo his test as he had the temperature setting of camera set to Standard and mostly had the display "docked" in the camera.
When you were saying that you only needed 4K 24 and wanted better IBIS, easier to setup AF (and even better AF) and better menu, and wanted the best standard colours in 8 bit profiles, I immediately would say the R5 is a better choice for you. It never overheats at standard 4K 24 either, even under the hot sun. The LCD is better, it has larger storage options for its CFExpress, and if you ever want to snap photos, way better photo abilities. I think the only drawback would be the 30 min record limit. Still unsure why Canon put that in now that the tariff or whatever was lifted in the UK on video cams. If they got rid of that limit in firmware, that would be a game changer.
It's a very nice camera but I have a sneaky suspicion most people that are initially excited are going to come to their senses and realize that what they have already works and works well and even if it didn't you can get a nice setup for less money too elsewhere.
You must be happy using manual focusing too. No mention of dynamic range which is the biggest draw card for me. We all have different priorities. Get the camera that suits you best ✌️
It’s all about the law of diminishing returns. For me to upgrade from my Panasonic’s I’ll have to spend a lot to see maybe a 10-15% increase in image quality, but my mode of delivery will probably negate that performance increase. Then there is the thorny issue of heat management. Where I live in Western Australia 45C in summer is a reality and 25C is a warm winters day. That definitely rules out the R5 & 6 and makes life difficult for the A7S3. My Panasonic’s don’t miss a beat. The considerations of size and weight are important. I’m a one man band and I have to be able to carry everything and after spinal surgery at the beginning of the year that means full frame is out. It’s not the size of the cameras it’s the weight of the lenses. A cubic centimetre of glass is heavier than a cubic centimetre of concrete. So as you say it all comes down to usage scenarios and while my inner gear freak says “Yes!!!!! Upgrade” my more rational self says “No “. Oh and can I let go of some of thoughts now?
For those worried about overheating, why not just use the GH5 with the metabones and sigma 18-35? Will give you full frame equivalent DOF, and won't overheat. And has other bonuses like waveform and vectorscope.
This is the first I've seen your channel. This review is perfection. The ending... How could it have ended any better? Ill be digesting your content from here on out. Just an observation, your dialogue audio is much quieter then most. I think a little LA2A compression would do the trick in leveling out the quiet moments and a limiter to keep it at -0.3 LUFS for streaming would really give your brilliant content a gorgeous shine.
@@3BMEP I love izotope products. It sounds like you made the audio gorgous. If you have ozone 8 or 9 it has an detect threshold built in. Simply put your ceiling at -0.3 and make sure the target LUFS is at -14. Hit detect and play about 30sec of dialogue and itll be damn close to perfect. Hope this helps.
Let me make an odd suggestion. Consider a photographer who does only still photography, but generally of fast-changing scenes. This photographer is usually looking for Bresson's decisive moment. Many times, the subject is wildlife so very often the lighting is terrible. Despite that, fast accurate focussing in any light is paramount, as is good IBIS and ultra low noise (high max ISO). Because of the bad lighting, a big bright EVF is a must. 12 megapixels is a bit offputting, but the resulting pictures should be just fine for projected or screen display. This particular photographer doesn't work for high-end magazines. Many of this photographer's subjects are nervous and really don't like mechanical shutters. Out comes a new camera body that's only aimed at video shooters. Really? I'm pretty interested.
One thing my friends and I were discussing is the pros and cons of this camera vs. a camcorder of roughly the similar price. Of course, you give up the interchangeable lens capability that the S provides with the mid-priced camcorders, which are all integrated lens cameras (typically 24mm to 400mm zoom range, and of course slower lenses) (the Sony I've mentioned below goes to f/1.9 at the short end though) $3500 buys you a Panasonic AG-CX350 4K Camcorder (will the ultra-zoom built in), Top seller at B&H - but us coming-from-photography guys know nothing about it or the Sony offerings similar to it. Or, if you add in the price of a couple Sony FE lens to the comparison, you could get the Sony PXW-Z280 4K 3-CMOS 1/2" Sensor XDCAM Camcorder ($7000). Are these expensive camcorders with their smaller sensors (but 3 of them in the case of that Sony) now obsolete? Or put more simply: why haven't the camcorder and mirrorless markets already converged. Sony and Panasonic maintain totally separate product lines, with products at identical pricepoints from $300 until $5,000 - at which point everythng priced above the A9 is on the video side and goes to $80,000.
Just one note, you need to flip out the screen to have full benefits of its heat management. You will be pleased with how big difference in record time it makes. Overall great thoughts :)
Too bad you don't have a thermal imager to determine where the heat is coming from, memory card, battery and flippy screen open or closed can have an impact, as well internal build quality and of course operating mode and outside temperature. The New memory card type might run cooler than old one etc. I found running a battery eliminator with an external power pack often makse a difference, since you lose the internal heat generated by the battery,
The funny thing about all of this is how literally every mirrorless option out there boasts remarkable features, albeit each of them will have flaws that will either be vociferously called out or vociferously defended. The question I have is how many people out there will actually need 16 bit raw in the A7S3, 6K 10 bit in the S1H, or the 8K features of the R5. All are incredible...but how many outside professionals will actually utilize these feature sets? That being said I always enjoy your reviews!
Thanks for another great technical video. it's really interesting, as a brit, I see overheating as an issue of lower concern. But every single time i take out a camera I always need good low-light to do something or other. I think that Sony making the chip 12mp to avoid any conversion calculations is super clever of them.
Hi Hugh, All my experience with Sony has been positive with one exception. The diopter adjust on the viewfinder is about .5 diopter short. The GH4 and up allow me to see clearly without my glasses but the Sony is just short of the runway. Maybe they'll listen to you. Or, maybe you can find a way to manufacture a vision adaptor. Thanks, LG
I have been watching your channels not for your gear reviews or photography related topics. But solely for your speech delivery and thought processes 👍🏻👏 Incredible!! You should run as a mayor in my city 😂
Its a very intelligently designed videocentric lightweight camera (panasonic is much heavier &has a fan) Also it complements the a7r4 which does give very clean 4k 8bit video (no overheating in Indian heat & one can do amazing animations of the stills in postprocessing video) Most projects do not demand that extra 10bit etc and whether that extra is worth it for the extra processing on the computer is another issue. However the lowlight & slowmotion - overall ergonomy really complement . It also shows that with every new camera sony increases the ergonomy and sees its cameras both individually and as part of a larger system.
Hugh, I love the broader perspective you bring. The A7Siii, R5, R6, S1H, Z6 and SL2 are all compelling. Yet I can't see enough of a difference in ergonomics and quality for my needs to part ways with my Oly E-M1ii and my forthcoming BMPCC4k. Jewel-like little lightweight lenses, fantastic feel in the hand and the ability to share lenses across both bodies as well as my girlfriend's G7.
Hugh, after watching this video , I must say that this is a great time to be beginning a photography career, equipment-wise. I say this because, if you are not committed to a sensor/image size, m4/3, APS-C, ,etc., and do not have to sell bodies and lenses or move from one manufacturer to another, you can, ignoring budget constraints, purchase a system that, depending on your needs provides satisfaction with a minimum of compromises. Technology junkies excepted- 12-18 months from now, unless every manufacturer goes out of business, they will be drooling over the next series of releases. I enjoy how you, in a very thoughtful way, compare the offerings without letting specs become boring and unremarkable while describing who an offering is likely to satisfy, and precisely why or why not. I may be wrong but I see you as pragmatic, enjoying the test use of the latest and greatest, while only occasionally scumming to some seductive offering.
Clearly some kind of embargo was lifted, there are now a dozen A7sIII videos in my feed... I don't feel like watching them all, they add up to like 8 hours worth of content... I'll pick Hugh's video :D
Yeah, when Sony drops new cameras, my feed gets destroyed by the Sony Ambassadors with titles like "the greatest vlogging camera ever?!"... and that was even for just the 6500 and ZV1. It's nuts.
I'm still debating on which camera to get the GH5 or the a7s111. Though I really want the Sony, the Gh5 still seems to shine bright considering what I would use it for, and especially cost. I appreciate your incite my friend. Keep up the great work.
As always: it depends. Over three and a half years of use, we've come to value the smaller lenses; better ergos, IBIS; price, and tethering app; and utter reliability of the GH5. But it is incontrovertible that the a7S III has superior AF, low light performance at any given ISO, storage options, EVF, more lenses offering shallower depth of field, frame rates, and bit depths (though full-on 16-bit RAW is not yet available - the Ninja V records that signal as 12-bit ProRes RAW). It nets out to this: if you need better AF or low light performance -- and/or consistently shallower depth of field than, call it, f/2.8 FF equivalent -- and can afford it, the a7s III is the better choice. If you can be happy with what the GH5 CAN do -- and we have been -- it remains an extraordinary tool at a compelling price.
A new camera has not even been released and everyone is up in arms about this or that. It always takes 6-12 months before large numbers of people finally have used the cameras for a while and barring blatant fanboism the reality starts to emerge. A year ago I would never have thought about getting an a7riv but I recently took an interest in bird photography and it sure is nice to take the camera out and punch into super 35 mode and still get really usable sharp files. Times change opinions change and what may have appeared one way may in fact turn out to be just the opposite after a while of reflection. There are so many excellent options and it is so much easier to get great results than it was even 5 years ago and we still manage to whine and complain. I guess that’s just human nature. The pandemic has allowed those who have been forced out of work the time to reflect about life and what is really meaningful we should use this time for some serious soul searching.
I shot the subways with CineStill 800T film, rated at 640 ASA with an aperture of f2 and a 125th shutter. I think you’d be fine with most normal video cameras. Now that only goes for the cars not the stations although I rarely change my exposure for those either.
I always love your reviews! You have such a professional, unbiased approach. You are also such a good orator! I’ve watched a lot of your videos, have you ever made a video where you explain your background ? As always, I look forward to more videos.
As you inferred in the black-and-white footage section of the video, the content is the point. What aides you in getting that content that can also mesh with your style is more to the point. Improved bells and whistles are nice but at what cost? It’s always about the quality of the content. I’ve never sat and watched a documentary with someone who later said “I thought it was a nice film though I found the section at the barn dance a bit shaky. They should’ve shot it with something that had in camera stabilization”
when it comes to the "I'd rather have" - I'd rather have a camera that has no video mode on it at all. Just gets in my way. Not to say I don't understand it, its just my "rather have"
The moment my A7iii lens line up was complete, I bought a backpack for it all.. put it on my back and said “what have I done....?” I’ve now ordered a Fuji x100v ...
Most compelling video-centric camera since the GH-5? Talk about understatement. There is a rumour that the laundry service near Panasonic HQ spent the hours after the Sony announcement cleaning brown stains out of the rear of executive trousers. Canon, meanwhile, has needed to build a new laundry building to handle the extra load.
Try the non pre-production of the Sony a7s 3 everybody else I watch had no issues with overheating in hot weather. Maybe you got a bad one? Quality control is needing a closer look it seems. try again when the final release model comes out, and see if it over heats.
I like how you sometimes don't come back to the thoughts you make us hold. Giving us the answer with your silence. Or better yet, letting our own consciousness speak.
Great review! For me the biggest differentiator between the a7siii and the r5 is the cool down time. I AM ok with overheating after 20 or so mins as long as the recovery time is decent.
You are so much smarter than all the TH-camrs out there like Undone etc who go on and on about specs... 10 bit, log, raw, etc, then they post their videos on TH-cam which uses 8 bit, highly compressed formats (which are usually viewed on tiny cellphones). It's AMAZING how brainwashed they are by the big companies, and how in turn they brainwash the general public. In fact, most of these same people were saying they shoot 99% of their stuff in 1080p because the 4K file sizes are too big and nasty to work with.
10Bit is the key to shoot and grade SLOG 14+stops source material. Even if you're only interested to deliver FHD 8Bit 709. What worries me is Sony went for HEVC 10Bit 4:2:2 but no hardware manufacturer supports 4:2:2 decoding, nVidia doesn't, intel doesn't. This is a worry for those wanting to use a contemporary high compression codec for long format. Can't wait to have it in my hands ;-)
Your delivery of real value, in one of the most confused domains, is nothing less than inspiring. I think your reflection on COVID times was important. Overall Greed and Cam race are something to be more aware for. Thank you
Olivier La Buse Agreed with the addition of a great auto focus system! And we know Panasonic cameras don’t seem to overheat like everyone else. Long live M4/3! 😊
Sounds like a very nice offering from Sony. Hopefully we see an update to the Panasonic GH5/G9 with phase detect auto-focus to compete. I think the smaller M4/3 lenses are still a real advantage.
It would probably be much harder than you think. Takes up space in body and you'd need holes for air to flow through. Also, as far as most reviewers are saying, this camera really has no overheating problem. It's likely that the problem they experience here can be solved by settings in camera or just opening up the flip-out screen.
Interesting. Compared to other TH-camrs doing testing, the overheating didn't seem to be an issue. Quite the opposite. (See DPreview and others). Perhaps a Pre-production issue?
Maybe a single digit percentage point of Fujifilm fans. One the cornerstones of Fujifilm's appeal is value for money - specs that match or better flagship fullframe cameras at a fraction of the price.
Its a simple decision. For video, take sony new camera wo any restrictions. For stills, hands down R5. I would have preferred Canon not adding the 8K feature. That alone could of cut the cost down.
For my live music photography and videography this camera seems perfect. Exactly the camera I was hoping from Nikon so I could use my f mount glass with electronics. But that new 12-24 is perfect for this camera and my style of work in stills . For video wow it’s perfect for the festivals I video and what I’m working on now because of the covid19. The virus has actually brought me more work in one way .
Small mirrorless camera bodies have reached the limit of their video capabilities due to the laws of physics & overheating. Surely if someone is a video-centric shooter they have two basic options : 1. Continue to use a hybrid body for its lower profile/convenience but accept lower quality output ( which is "good enough" for most people ) or 2. buy a dedicated video camera eg. EOS C200. Personally I wish camera manufacturers would stop this incessant push to create hybrid cameras. Can we get back to creating dedicated stills cameras ? Please.
Thank you for this awesome real world heat test. This is the kind of thing people really need to know before investing in a new body. As for me, I'll be sticking with my GH5 / GH5S.
Hey Hugh, another stellar video. In your next video about the a7siii I'd love for you to talk about the viability of using the Sony A7siii for photography. It seems with the pixel war we've forgotten how amazing pictures can look on a 'low' mega pixel ff sensor. Thanks for all you do.
@@3BMEP Exactly. There is something about the bigger size of the pixels that gives better image fedility or that little bit of sauce. Hopefully the photography chops of the A7siii won't be lost agmonst the video hype.
I think this camera is beautiful for TH-camrs and videographers. But the better camera for most hybrid shooters is the R6, which can do most of what this camera can do, with a stills resolution that works for most working photographers.
@Olivier La Buse I agree. But not because of price. By spec the R6 is much closer to the A7s. But both Canon cameras are designed for photographer's first, while the Sony is obviously geared towards video work.
Rick Lancaster - Souled Out meee too. I just bought my bmpc6k... To be honest , I doubt that the Sony can match the bmpc6k. The Sony footage looks video'sk. The bmpc6k is cinematic.
bdogdaprince highlights look really nice on BM but do I really want an AC to pull my focus. Like what’s gonna make my vid look better dynamic movement and all that or slightly nicer footage
It's like listening to somebody reciting poetry
That's why we love Hugh... a dying breed unfortunately :-( (not that Hugh is dying, that was just a saying, lol). I appreciate him always taking the time to write a script and his ability to eloquently read from the prompter, yet ad lib and go off script , and the "hold that thought". He literally has turned topics we all find fascinating (which normally geeky and too technical) into artsy-techno-poetry. Axle Rose said it best: "We've been dancing with.. Mr. Brown-stone.." lol
🙏🏻😎
Hey, all. I’m pinning this comment to the top. Thanks for your suggestions and observations re overheating outside in hot weather. I am working directly with Sony to get this sorted. Which, by the way, has always been my experience with them: good people focused on solving problems and appreciative of feedback. The unit may be defective, or the solution may be as simple as keeping the rear panel swung out from the body. Dan Watson (a fellow TH-camr and bud I hold in high regard) has had the same issue down in Florida with a different pre-production unit.. So far, on the unit I have, changing the auto power off temp setting to high has not solved the problem. Late yesterday afternoon, I tried to record with the rear screen open 180 degrees (or as close as possible - it was a few degrees less). I stopped recording 59 minutes in ( already a significantly better result) as the sun had lowered enough in the sky to introduce a second variable. Will try once more today to hold all variables constant except for the rear panel being open. Stay tuned. If that is all that it takes, I will be satisfied that we could do everything with the a7s III that we want and have done with our GH5 - and, of course more save for IBIS performance. If not, we’ll repeat the test with a production unit. Again, thanks for being so engaged in a constructive way. More details: 10-bit 4:2:2 4K/24p XAVC-S (h.264)
just what I wanted to see. Thanks for the communication!
Was this shooting only 4K 24 as before when it first shut down?
77dris yep. See my update from tonight in the community section here on TH-cam.
Did you change your setting for the high temp in the menu? If you don't do that the camera will use a much lower treshold before shutting down. Always use "high" mode.
FIRST THING I do with ANY new sony body is turn that temperature setting to high though 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
One of the main reason for me as I am very interested in this camera is the 12MP sensor - Don't get me wrong I am doing a lot of promotional photography but the high resolution is making my workflow much slower. Most of the time I use my photos for Instagram and Facebook and TH-cam - for these platforms 12MP is more than enough - anything higher I would have to undergo the painful process of downsampling the image. Photoshop filters or whatever processing software you are using - is gonna be much faster with just a 12MP image.
And the other reason is I am doing shooting videos for a living and this is the best we got - but I would rather shoot in storage-saving 4k 60p with HVEC codec - than all intra or 120p. The 60p is an advantage if you are looking for a smooth video. Between 24p and 30p you can clearly see if you are not using an ND filter - but at 60p and above we can simply interpret the footage to 24p and it looks much smoother. Of course, an ND filter would be the best if you are going for slow-motion videos - but 60 frames and above you can hardly see a difference. Outdoor changing filters can be a risk for your front glass - I'd prefer to have my filter on all times while I am outside - especially in humid or dusty environments. And not needing an ND filter is quite convenient - just leave on a POL or BlackProMist filter.
If TH-cam gave awards for presentation performance/acting excellence, you’re it. You’re a better performer than many male leading actors in Hollywood films, hands down. Nicely performed and technically precise in camera capabilities/specs. Bravura!👏👏👏👏👏
When I want to listen to an unbiased view on camera gear and some carefully put together thoughts, I visit Three Blind Men and An Elephant and get lost in Hugh's voice and thoughts.
🙏🏻🖖🏻😊
422 internal is kinda sexy. But what a trade...your in for lots of cash for a result that most people can’t see. I could get excited about something that was a talisman. But although this is a very nice hammer its still a hammer. I love the form factor of m4/3... small cool lenses, longer battery life and less overhead all around. GH5 is still a great hammer that pounds a nail very well for 95% of anything most people need. I’d save the money for the “fun” camera.
Our approach as well, Ted!
@@3BMEP a nice leica perchance hehe
@@o.n.e.wayhunting He is good for youtuber but not for professional like Hugh.
11:06 - someone did the test with screen open and closed, open no overheating, closed it can overheat
yep, was just going to post that. These are also pre-release.
I’m curious how the GH5 which has no fan doesn’t overheat... is it because it has a larger body?
@@asafblasbergvideographer larger body, smaller sensor
@@asafblasbergvideographer The GH5 has a much lower processing load and clearly has adequate heat dissipating ability for that load - you can fit lots of heat management in such a large M4/3 body.
@@asafblasbergvideographer size def can help dissipate heat. But it is too easy to just tilt the display a tad and allow the heat to not build up. On top of that im not a fan of these type of tests, where they just slap the camera on a tripod and hit record...
There is nothing causing the camera to have to find a subject and adjust focus, no challenges on exposures changes, no movements that require stabilization, etc. Gerald Undone actually put through camera through its paces during that test as well as doing stationary tests.
Back to the cooling design, from what I can tell its passive (no fan) , uses specific metals and ceramics and essentially turns the entire body into a heat sync. A big part of that design might be having the screen tilted off the body or it would be like keeping a winter hat on working out in the sun.
Another major difference that could lead to overheating in some cases, is that the a7S3 is a significantly larger sensor and due to its superior AF and other features, requires 2 newer processors, likely doing an order of magnitude around 10 times more processing. Would be interesting to see someone do a deep dive on your question, because I can only speculate until my a7S3 comes in.
Lastly, remember everyone has pre-release versions of the hardware and software and there has been a few units with defects. So until the hw/sw is finalized and the quality controls can be implemented before shipping, I wouldnt be concerned about a small percentage of issues. 95% of the review ive seen tried to overheat it and couldn't, one (Potato Jet) actually put it in an oven so that doesnt count. But the vast majority seem fine. Versus, the overheating with the R5 is real and has to be managed. And there is no fixing that with firmware.
The GH5 is a work horse, as will be the a7S3, but the GH5 has had much more time in peoples hands and has been in its final state for awhile now. Unless you are needing 4k/120p or the upcoming 16bit RAW, I would just stay the course
I'm holding off until A7iV because sometimes I forget that I'm also a photographer.
I was about to upgrade my camera but not in the near future. No airshows , no big events , even the TH-cam views are lower then usual
Makes sense to me.
I'm considering jumped from the GH5/GH5s to the a7siii/a7riii. Do you know if there is a "crop button" to punch in while shooting 1080p? Would be great to get a closer shot while filming live
Did you set the auto shutoff temp to high?
The voice of reason we all need to hear once again. Thanks Hugh.
Its a case of want not need, and you're right to point out the insignificance of these camera releases in the current climate.
I'm sticking with my GH5 and GH5S. I still don't want to do handheld video with sub par IBIS and heavy lenses, and for me that's the bottom line. Nothing beats the GH5 for all day handheld shooting.
I love my GH5 for handheld shooting. It’s a cheat code 😄😁.
I bought my S1H last month knowing the rumor of Sony coming out . but when I first saw the S1H , Not even knowing the full specs . just seeing the footage and the Design , I had fell in love . I somehow feel that this camera is special compared to any other camera, so I’m happy with no regrets.
Enjoy!
Same! I bought the S1H the day the R5 was announced. And now that Sony finally updated their camera line up, I feel like there’s now something for everyone to enjoy.
It's the only hybrid approved for Netflix productions. That should tell you who the camera is geared for and what it's capable of. Most of the video cameras on the list are 3x and much more the price of the S1H. Only the Blackmagic Mini URSA is only $2k more but 2x the weight and size. At least. And it's not a hybrid either. Nothing else on the list is actually.
I think the S1H is fantastic and would love to get one. But I know then I'll get the S1R and more lenses and....
Thanks for the review. if the A7S3 shuts-down on overheat, can it be used for a lower quality video function - immediate after tuning it on after shutdown?
That point about record times on the street/outdoors is one I wish more reviewers made, it can be such an important make-or-break datapoint. I'd argue it's one of the biggest ones flat-out.
Jenny! Hope you're doing well!
Agreed. *cough canon *cough. Also nice to see you in TH-cam comments once again, hope Zeos telegram is doing well
@@Maxime-ho9iv That's true, it's no GH5 but it also seems far from an R5, or the issues of the earlier A7 models. All in all, still looks great but I think you'd want an S1H for reliability if full frame warm environment video shooting is something you do a lot, if just for peace of mind. Still looks like a great option generally, definitely going to be many people's camera of choice for good reason.
It might have to do with the fact that swiveling the display to not trap heat behind it is something fellow reviewers do automatically, knowing previous Sony's. It bears consideration to make this little adjustment for hot conditions.
Was there the Auto Pwr OFF Temp. setting like on A7III in the menu?
yes
@@Newtperc Was it set to high?
Yes Hugh owns Sony cameras and is aware of that setting. I think it was due to having the display right against the body. Which I never do on any 4K camera, jist makes sense to me to keep it tilted slightly, as you can feel the heat at that part of the camera. So keeping the display flat against the back not only keeps heat in, but makes you have to tilt yourself to see the display better. Only time my display is flat is when it is being transported or being stored.
@@Hangs4Fun Or maybe he got a dud, since It's a pre-production model.
@@stefantasic9271 That is most definitely my top pick for what happened, but still I would have my screen tilted on any small body camera, even it doesn't "overheat" it probably still gets hotter than you probably want it to. No telling what that does for the longevity of the device. This is a trade off of small body, large sensor, lots of processing, high bitrates, advanced AF, etc; There is going to be heat involved, best to help it dissipate IMHO. But you are correct, high probably it was a dud. The quality controls for pre-releases are immature at that stage of production and there are a lot of variables of unknown at that time.
Does the camera screen turn off when you record 4k using an external monitor? (just like on all previous a7 cameras) ?
In regards to temp shutting down...I just watched Gerald Undone's video, he seemed to not have any problems with shutting down. I wonder if humidity is an issue.
Tom Chamberlain Could be. High humidity here, and Gerald is quite through.
@@3BMEP he is thorough, I don't shoot video and I still like his chanel. =)
Swivel the display away from the A7S III body and see if that helps with over-heating.
Did so, and still had the problem. We’ll have to wait for another unit to be more definitive.
It overheated twice for Dan Watson.. See his tests.
I stick with my S1, it’s lowlight performance is more then enough and I doubt a7siii is more then 1 stop better, not that it matters for me.
Hi Hugh, was the "Auto Power OFF Temp." set to "High"? Thanks
I only shoot stills but this camera still interests me despite the flaws. Is that wrong? Would this still make a good stills camera?
Great video mate, love your reviews. Questions: How is the IBIS for video compared to the Gh5 or G9? I noticed you said the GH5 is better, but how better is that? Is it something dramatic or just a bit better? Cheers mate from Australia
Thought provoking as usual!👏🏾 I have had the same conversation in my head for the S1H, the R5 and 6, but relented with the A7SIII. My decision to preorder it is based not on it replacing my GH5 system but to complement it as being my B cam for such situations as low light or needing a dedicated gimbal camera. I love the GH5 and my EF glass and I see no reason to abandon them just because there is a new camera in town! When the GH6 arrives, I shall be all in!😄🙏🏾
Enjoy!
I have a G9. I'd like have a nice full-frame set up to complete my toolbox. I just can't decide with the new cameras that came out in 2020. It is nice not to be in a hurry. I am going to check it out very carefully.
I cancelled my preorder because I have decided to let the dust settle, watch new reviews with actual production cameras and my pro camera shop has offered to let me test all the cameras when they get them in! I too can wait to make an informed choice! 😀
William Bibb good call.
How's the audio on this a7s III, or any of the a7 series? I play acoustic guitar and have been looking for the right digital camera to record home sessions. Currently using a Rode NT4 stereo mic plugged directly into a Sony a57 to capture the guitar sound. The HD video quality is passable, but the preamp on the a57 kinda sucks for audio. Recommendations?
No matter how good a camera’s preamps, a dedicated recorder is better. On the lower end, we.’be had good experience with the TASCAM DR70-D. At 2-3x the price, Sound Design’s Pre-Mix 3 II would be my first suggestion.
@Kevin Barnard
I agree with Hugh. Pick up an external recorder. The two he suggested are great.
This would be a much more cost effective solution that would offer very high quality and would not require you to always use the camera for your recordings.
My preference would also be the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II. Preamp & ADC/DAC quality, features, and ergonomics are better IMO (I have the MixPre-10 II).
Having said that, I've captured some fantastic recordings of my sax and drums/percussion with the older Zoom H6 combined with CAD E100S, Lewitt LCT-550, or Samar VL-37A ribbon mics.
The Zoom H6 also worked excellently as my stereo drum overhead mics using its included X/Y Mic capsules. It also comes with a Mid/Side mic capsule.
I also used the H6 with the X/Y or M/S capsules as the ambient "room" mics placed 6 or more feet away, and one or two of my condenser mics as the "close" guitar mics. Really nice when blended.
And the Lewitt LCT-340 SDC mic is excellent for acoustic guitar as well.
The *Zoom H6* happens to be On Sale for $100 OFF right now at B&H...
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967366-REG/zoom_h6_handy_audio_recorder.html
But if you have the extra cash, the Sound Devices MixPre II-series are better quality overall. However, I doubt you'd benefit from or discern the difference if all you are doing is TH-cam videos, though.
It's not night & day, but if you have a Hi-Res audio monitoring setup or very good headphones or IEMs & DAC/Amp, you will probably notice just a bit of difference, including the noise floor.
And it's quite easy to sync your separate audio tracks to your video these days.
I think the Sony A7SIII would be overkill for your use unless you have the extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to significantly up your game, and/or plan to do a lot of other video work with it as well.
Also remember that you'd probably want to invest in a new good lens or two to match the improved quality of the camera itself, as well some extra batteries, new memory cards, accessories, etc. This all adds up...
And you could probably buy another nice Gibson, Taylor, or other acoustic guitar with that money.
And either the MixPre or Zoom units will work independently as a separate USB audio interface with your computer. I'm not sure if the Tascam will do that but most likely it would as well.
I am also very interested in the audio quality and performance of the new A7SIII, seeing as it has the direct digital audio interface via the hot shoe and the XLR adapter.
It will come down to the quality and performance of the ADC & DAC in the Sony as well as the mic preamps in the XLR input adapter (which should be "decent" considering its asking price).
If you can wait a bit, I would keep a close eye on *Curtis Judd's* TH-cam channel for a review on the Audio Performance of the A7SIII. ;)
Do we have lossless compression yet?
Can AF finally reliably lock onto a small object like a still bird in mid ground?
Did You guys turn off high temp warning on a7sIII?
Did you pick up on the dual iso that they don't seem to mention ? It seems there is a noticeable switch at 16,000 iso and it's cleaner than anything above 3,200.
Thanks for the 'in the sun tests'! Your rant about what you'd rather have sounded like you'd like a cinema camera though... Yeah, Sony didn't quite match up w/ Panasonic's S1H features... or a true cinema camera. I guess I don't know how you could truly be disappointed in a mirrorless camera with these features at this size and price.
Do you know what about anamorphic aspects and desqueeze on the a7s3 ?
That depth-of-field equalization with the GH-5...yeah...wow...that says a LOT about the relative performance differences...or the lack therof...between sensor sizes. Gawd...if Panasonic had better C-AF, their cameras could be the total bomb. I'd love to hear the lead engineer's reasoning, who decided way back when, when they decided to go down the DFD AF route as opposed to phase-detection. Man what a (negative?) consequential choice that was.
Conspiracies about Sony intentionally crippling the sensor aside, could it be that DFD is better suited for manual work? (Serious question, because Im using mainly manual with my Panys) Hold that...
William Salopek , I am not sure but I think Sony developed the sensor and phase detect auto focus. They either did not want to license the use to Lumix or Lumix did not want to pay the fee.
@@mawavoy Mike never heard that Sony owns a patent on phase-detect autofocus. I hear what you are saying, but I don't think that's the case.
@@dude1diligence Manual focus is manual, right? Has nothing to do with autofocus? I don't see where DFD makes manual focus any better...a person is not using ANY autofocus when manually focusing...or maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying?
@@Bill-NM hi, I think what Michael is saying and I suspect too is Sony not giving Pany the full potential of their sensor. I think there is sensor hardware difference between CDAF and Hybrid CDAF/PDAF senor used by Olympus. And maybe as u said, Pany choose to stick with CDAF even though Olympus moved on to Hybrid AF. My suspicion also that Hybrid needs more processing power and might overheat or sacrifice video output. Pany then chose CDAF (Dfd) to give very solid video recording capabilities, albeit at the expense of solid AF. So in the end, it meant Pany pleased the crowd who used manual anyway, at the expense of those who needed AF in video. For stills alone, Pany cdaf(dfd) has no downsides vs cdaf/hybrid sensors. So in the end, Pany might have intentionally chose that niche, which is smart too. Then when technology n R&D catches up, ie. Able to cope with processing PDAF for video while keeping overheating under control while maintaining weather sealing without active cooling...then Pany might introduce PDAF for greatly improved AF to please the other crowd as well. This is my own uneducated and 2 sense speculation. Hope u understand the mess I wrote.
were you shooting in 4k when it over heated or 1080p?
4K/24p 10-bit 4:2:2
@@3BMEP so sony will have to do a firmware update on it correct?
Curious that B&H had no heat problems on their side, also shooting under the sun. Same for Gerald Undone which was able to record for 2 hours at 4k60p with an ambient temperature of 32C/90F, up until the battery died.
@quyeno
@Guillaume Briand
Hugh mentioned in other replies that he will redo his test as he had the temperature setting of camera set to Standard and mostly had the display "docked" in the camera.
why is the A7S3 such a mushy pic vs the S1H at 51k ISO?? look at the texture in the lower right side corner .
Did u set the auto power OFF Temp to high? It seems like it was lasting much longer if u put that setting on, from the other reviews I saw.
I had it set to standard. I will try one more test this afternoon with this change.
Doing that gave me an extra 15 minutes. More testing tomorrow. 😊
Awesome. Any chance of getting 10bit 422 slog3 footage to play with?
So is PP1 that same as on the FS5ii which is the Sony Venice look?
When you were saying that you only needed 4K 24 and wanted better IBIS, easier to setup AF (and even better AF) and better menu, and wanted the best standard colours in 8 bit profiles, I immediately would say the R5 is a better choice for you. It never overheats at standard 4K 24 either, even under the hot sun. The LCD is better, it has larger storage options for its CFExpress, and if you ever want to snap photos, way better photo abilities. I think the only drawback would be the 30 min record limit. Still unsure why Canon put that in now that the tariff or whatever was lifted in the UK on video cams. If they got rid of that limit in firmware, that would be a game changer.
Just one question: why is the s1h used with uhd 180fps? That makes no sense for nighttime shot without any movement?
Sorry - you misunderstand. This refers to shutter angle, not shutter speed. Actual shutter speed is equivalent to 1/48
Ah my bad - sorry for bothering you. Great video!
Girion5 no worries!
Have you tried setting the Overheat check to High?
11:00 others find out it seems flipping the display out help it so much, for some reason, improved to more than twice that time.
It's a very nice camera but I have a sneaky suspicion most people that are initially excited are going to come to their senses and realize that what they have already works and works well and even if it didn't you can get a nice setup for less money too elsewhere.
You must be happy using manual focusing too. No mention of dynamic range which is the biggest draw card for me. We all have different priorities. Get the camera that suits you best ✌️
My man got the best audio in the business.
🙏🏻😊
What. It is very different than other reviews shows. All other reviews says they can not got a7s3 to overheat in any mode except 4k 120p.
It’s all about the law of diminishing returns. For me to upgrade from my Panasonic’s I’ll have to spend a lot to see maybe a 10-15% increase in image quality, but my mode of delivery will probably negate that performance increase.
Then there is the thorny issue of heat management. Where I live in Western Australia 45C in summer is a reality and 25C is a warm winters day. That definitely rules out the R5 & 6 and makes life difficult for the A7S3. My Panasonic’s don’t miss a beat.
The considerations of size and weight are important. I’m a one man band and I have to be able to carry everything and after spinal surgery at the beginning of the year that means full frame is out. It’s not the size of the cameras it’s the weight of the lenses. A cubic centimetre of glass is heavier than a cubic centimetre of concrete.
So as you say it all comes down to usage scenarios and while my inner gear freak says “Yes!!!!! Upgrade” my more rational self says “No “.
Oh and can I let go of some of thoughts now?
Paul Amyes I believe you just did - and good thought they are indeed! 😊🖖🏻
Now give us the A7 IV for normal people. Just 4k 60p and flip screen
GREAT idea!
Would it be 10bit tho
@@cinialvespow1054 no
@@KallusGarnet in which case ill get the a7siii
For those worried about overheating, why not just use the GH5 with the metabones and sigma 18-35? Will give you full frame equivalent DOF, and won't overheat. And has other bonuses like waveform and vectorscope.
This is the first I've seen your channel. This review is perfection. The ending... How could it have ended any better? Ill be digesting your content from here on out.
Just an observation, your dialogue audio is much quieter then most. I think a little LA2A compression would do the trick in leveling out the quiet moments and a limiter to keep it at -0.3 LUFS for streaming would really give your brilliant content a gorgeous shine.
Then again, I hear a DS'er working lovingly on the syllabus so perhaps its the range of your velvety voice. Either way, worth noting.
I need to figure out how to better utilize RX7 leveler, I guess.
@@3BMEP I love izotope products. It sounds like you made the audio gorgous. If you have ozone 8 or 9 it has an detect threshold built in. Simply put your ceiling at -0.3 and make sure the target LUFS is at -14. Hit detect and play about 30sec of dialogue and itll be damn close to perfect. Hope this helps.
Let me make an odd suggestion. Consider a photographer who does only still photography, but generally of fast-changing scenes. This photographer is usually looking for Bresson's decisive moment. Many times, the subject is wildlife so very often the lighting is terrible. Despite that, fast accurate focussing in any light is paramount, as is good IBIS and ultra low noise (high max ISO). Because of the bad lighting, a big bright EVF is a must. 12 megapixels is a bit offputting, but the resulting pictures should be just fine for projected or screen display. This particular photographer doesn't work for high-end magazines. Many of this photographer's subjects are nervous and really don't like mechanical shutters. Out comes a new camera body that's only aimed at video shooters. Really? I'm pretty interested.
Great input!
Did you adjust the thermal settings to high? Your thermal "test" is nothing like others who have published no overheating.
Yep. Stay tuned. Another update coming in the next week or two - depends on the weather!
This proves just how good the Panasonic GH5 is in 2020!
(and how competitive the S1H is against all the other full frame releases)
One thing my friends and I were discussing is the pros and cons of this camera vs. a camcorder of roughly the similar price.
Of course, you give up the interchangeable lens capability that the S provides with the mid-priced camcorders, which are all integrated lens cameras (typically 24mm to 400mm zoom range, and of course slower lenses) (the Sony I've mentioned below goes to f/1.9 at the short end though)
$3500 buys you a Panasonic AG-CX350 4K Camcorder (will the ultra-zoom built in), Top seller at B&H - but us coming-from-photography guys know nothing about it or the Sony offerings similar to it.
Or, if you add in the price of a couple Sony FE lens to the comparison, you could get the Sony PXW-Z280 4K 3-CMOS 1/2" Sensor XDCAM Camcorder ($7000).
Are these expensive camcorders with their smaller sensors (but 3 of them in the case of that Sony) now obsolete?
Or put more simply: why haven't the camcorder and mirrorless markets already converged. Sony and Panasonic maintain totally separate product lines, with products at identical pricepoints from $300 until $5,000 - at which point everythng priced above the A9 is on the video side and goes to $80,000.
I’m waiting for a Sony FS3 😈
Just one note, you need to flip out the screen to have full benefits of its heat management. You will be pleased with how big difference in record time it makes.
Overall great thoughts :)
Too bad you don't have a thermal imager to determine where the heat is coming from, memory card, battery and flippy screen open or closed can have an impact, as well internal build quality and of course operating mode and outside temperature. The New memory card type might run cooler than old one etc. I found running a battery eliminator with an external power pack often makse a difference, since you lose the internal heat generated by the battery,
You're the man. Just preordered mine.
The funny thing about all of this is how literally every mirrorless option out there boasts remarkable features, albeit each of them will have flaws that will either be vociferously called out or vociferously defended. The question I have is how many people out there will actually need 16 bit raw in the A7S3, 6K 10 bit in the S1H, or the 8K features of the R5. All are incredible...but how many outside professionals will actually utilize these feature sets? That being said I always enjoy your reviews!
I agree with your questions!
Thanks for another great technical video. it's really interesting, as a brit, I see overheating as an issue of lower concern. But every single time i take out a camera I always need good low-light to do something or other. I think that Sony making the chip 12mp to avoid any conversion calculations is super clever of them.
You can change the settings to allow a higher temp shut off. The Fro said he couldn't make his copy over heat in direct sunlight 93ish degrees.
No one else in all the reviews I've sen have any overheating issues.
Hi Hugh,
All my experience with Sony has been positive with one exception. The diopter adjust on the viewfinder is about .5 diopter short. The GH4 and up allow me to see clearly without my glasses but the Sony is just short of the runway. Maybe they'll listen to you. Or, maybe you can find a way to manufacture a vision adaptor.
Thanks,
LG
I have been watching your channels not for your gear reviews or photography related topics. But solely for your speech delivery and thought processes 👍🏻👏 Incredible!! You should run as a mayor in my city 😂
😜😳😈
Its a very intelligently designed videocentric lightweight camera (panasonic is much heavier &has a fan) Also it complements the a7r4 which does give very clean 4k 8bit video (no overheating in Indian heat & one can do amazing animations of the stills in postprocessing video) Most projects do not demand that extra 10bit etc and whether that extra is worth it for the extra processing on the computer is another issue. However the lowlight & slowmotion - overall ergonomy really complement . It also shows that with every new camera sony increases the ergonomy and sees its cameras both individually and as part of a larger system.
Hugh, I love the broader perspective you bring. The A7Siii, R5, R6, S1H, Z6 and SL2 are all compelling. Yet I can't see enough of a difference in ergonomics and quality for my needs to part ways with my Oly E-M1ii and my forthcoming BMPCC4k. Jewel-like little lightweight lenses, fantastic feel in the hand and the ability to share lenses across both bodies as well as my girlfriend's G7.
Hugh, after watching this video , I must say that this is a great time to be beginning a photography career, equipment-wise. I say this because, if you are not committed to a sensor/image size, m4/3, APS-C, ,etc., and do not have to sell bodies and lenses or move from one manufacturer to another, you can, ignoring budget constraints, purchase a system that, depending on your needs provides satisfaction with a minimum of compromises. Technology junkies excepted- 12-18 months from now, unless every manufacturer goes out of business, they will be drooling over the next series of releases. I enjoy how you, in a very thoughtful way, compare the offerings without letting specs become boring and unremarkable while describing who an offering is likely to satisfy, and precisely why or why not. I may be wrong but I see you as pragmatic, enjoying the test use of the latest and greatest, while only occasionally scumming to some seductive offering.
😊🖖🏻
Clearly some kind of embargo was lifted, there are now a dozen A7sIII videos in my feed... I don't feel like watching them all, they add up to like 8 hours worth of content... I'll pick Hugh's video :D
Strange... I was thinking, "Oh, man... There are only 8 hours worth of A7sIII content... :) "
Yeah, when Sony drops new cameras, my feed gets destroyed by the Sony Ambassadors with titles like "the greatest vlogging camera ever?!"... and that was even for just the 6500 and ZV1. It's nuts.
I'm still debating on which camera to get the GH5 or the a7s111. Though I really want the Sony, the Gh5 still seems to shine bright considering what I would use it for, and especially cost. I appreciate your incite my friend. Keep up the great work.
As always: it depends. Over three and a half years of use, we've come to value the smaller lenses; better ergos, IBIS; price, and tethering app; and utter reliability of the GH5. But it is incontrovertible that the a7S III has superior AF, low light performance at any given ISO, storage options, EVF, more lenses offering shallower depth of field, frame rates, and bit depths (though full-on 16-bit RAW is not yet available - the Ninja V records that signal as 12-bit ProRes RAW). It nets out to this: if you need better AF or low light performance -- and/or consistently shallower depth of field than, call it, f/2.8 FF equivalent -- and can afford it, the a7s III is the better choice. If you can be happy with what the GH5 CAN do -- and we have been -- it remains an extraordinary tool at a compelling price.
A new camera has not even been released and everyone is up in arms about this or that. It always takes 6-12 months before large numbers of people finally have used the cameras for a while and barring blatant fanboism the reality starts to emerge. A year ago I would never have thought about getting an a7riv but I recently took an interest in bird photography and it sure is nice to take the camera out and punch into super 35 mode and still get really usable sharp files. Times change opinions change and what may have appeared one way may in fact turn out to be just the opposite after a while of reflection. There are so many excellent options and it is so much easier to get great results than it was even 5 years ago and we still manage to whine and complain. I guess that’s just human nature. The pandemic has allowed those who have been forced out of work the time to reflect about life and what is really meaningful we should use this time for some serious soul searching.
I shot the subways with CineStill 800T film, rated at 640 ASA with an aperture of f2 and a 125th shutter. I think you’d be fine with most normal video cameras. Now that only goes for the cars not the stations although I rarely change my exposure for those either.
Open the screen when filming for better heat management
I always love your reviews! You have such a professional, unbiased approach. You are also such a good orator! I’ve watched a lot of your videos, have you ever made a video where you explain your background ? As always, I look forward to more videos.
🙏🏻 you might take a listen to my conversations with Ibarionex’s or Jens Krauer...
I’d love to, where can I find them?
creativeorstrange www.ibarionex.net/thecandidframe/2020/3/29/the-candid-frame-509-hugh-brownstone
fujilove.com/fujilove-podcast-episode-43-with-hugh-brownstone/
As you inferred in the black-and-white footage section of the video, the content is the point. What aides you in getting that content that can also mesh with your style is more to the point. Improved bells and whistles are nice but at what cost? It’s always about the quality of the content. I’ve never sat and watched a documentary with someone who later said “I thought it was a nice film though I found the section at the barn dance a bit shaky. They should’ve shot it with something that had in camera stabilization”
here i am just happy sony never gave up on their A7S3 range, i thought it was over
when it comes to the "I'd rather have" - I'd rather have a camera that has no video mode on it at all. Just gets in my way. Not to say I don't understand it, its just my "rather have"
That’s the way I feel - and how we use - our personal street gear.
The moment my A7iii lens line up was complete, I bought a backpack for it all.. put it on my back and said “what have I done....?” I’ve now ordered a Fuji x100v ...
Nikon Z5? Great stills, forgettable video spec from 2014.. and it's cheap. I'm half kidding..
Most compelling video-centric camera since the GH-5? Talk about understatement. There is a rumour that the laundry service near Panasonic HQ spent the hours after the Sony announcement cleaning brown stains out of the rear of executive trousers. Canon, meanwhile, has needed to build a new laundry building to handle the extra load.
Try the non pre-production of the Sony a7s 3 everybody else I watch had no issues with overheating in hot weather. Maybe you got a bad one? Quality control is needing a closer look it seems. try again when the final release model comes out, and see if it over heats.
That is part of the plan😊
Can’t imagine this golden voice not being in very high demand!
I like how you sometimes don't come back to the thoughts you make us hold. Giving us the answer with your silence. Or better yet, letting our own consciousness speak.
You have such a wonderful way of presenting!
🙏🏻😊
Dan Watson also tested with the screen open out side in the sun and got less time than the r5.
Great review! For me the biggest differentiator between the a7siii and the r5 is the cool down time. I AM ok with overheating after 20 or so mins as long as the recovery time is decent.
Wait, you can't set it by shutter angle?
Maybe they’ll put it into the production release. My unit has firmware 0.91
You are so much smarter than all the TH-camrs out there like Undone etc who go on and on about specs... 10 bit, log, raw, etc, then they post their videos on TH-cam which uses 8 bit, highly compressed formats (which are usually viewed on tiny cellphones). It's AMAZING how brainwashed they are by the big companies, and how in turn they brainwash the general public. In fact, most of these same people were saying they shoot 99% of their stuff in 1080p because the 4K file sizes are too big and nasty to work with.
10Bit is the key to shoot and grade SLOG 14+stops source material. Even if you're only interested to deliver FHD 8Bit 709. What worries me is Sony went for HEVC 10Bit 4:2:2 but no hardware manufacturer supports 4:2:2 decoding, nVidia doesn't, intel doesn't. This is a worry for those wanting to use a contemporary high compression codec for long format. Can't wait to have it in my hands ;-)
Thinking of the bolex, 16mm, and film processing/conversion I could buy with 3,500 in addition to using a cheaper digital camera 🤷♂️
Fair point. How much COULD you buy? I have no idea about film and processing these days?
Your delivery of real value, in one of the most confused domains, is nothing less than inspiring. I think your reflection on COVID times was important. Overall Greed and Cam race are something to be more aware for. Thank you
🙏🏻
Thanks for this. Maybe not so perfect! The symbiotic relationship between the photographer and the camera and its reliability cannot be overstated.
7:15 ... my brain exploded when I saw how drastic the difference is.
Looks great but I think I’ll hold out for the eventual GH6.
Olivier La Buse Agreed with the addition of a great auto focus system! And we know Panasonic cameras don’t seem to overheat like everyone else. Long live M4/3! 😊
Sounds like a very nice offering from Sony. Hopefully we see an update to the Panasonic GH5/G9 with phase detect auto-focus to compete. I think the smaller M4/3 lenses are still a real advantage.
How difficult would it be for Sony to put a true fan on its bodies like the GH5 to prevent the overheating issue?
It would probably be much harder than you think. Takes up space in body and you'd need holes for air to flow through. Also, as far as most reviewers are saying, this camera really has no overheating problem. It's likely that the problem they experience here can be solved by settings in camera or just opening up the flip-out screen.
Any options for me to book a session of you reading a story? Or poetry? Coz with that voice and diction, it would be deadly.
Interesting. Compared to other TH-camrs doing testing, the overheating didn't seem to be an issue. Quite the opposite. (See DPreview and others). Perhaps a Pre-production issue?
Perhaps. Going to test it one more time this afternoon before shipping back.
"The camera that will make Fujifilm fans wonder..." wow, that line is too accurate.
Maybe a single digit percentage point of Fujifilm fans. One the cornerstones of Fujifilm's appeal is value for money - specs that match or better flagship fullframe cameras at a fraction of the price.
Keep the GH5! No need to upgrade, save the money.
Its a simple decision. For video, take sony new camera wo any restrictions. For stills, hands down R5. I would have preferred Canon not adding the 8K feature. That alone could of cut the cost down.
For my live music photography and videography this camera seems perfect. Exactly the camera I was hoping from Nikon so I could use my f mount glass with electronics. But that new 12-24 is perfect for this camera and my style of work in stills . For video wow it’s perfect for the festivals I video and what I’m working on now because of the covid19. The virus has actually brought me more work in one way .
Sounds like M43 and APS-C lives on. I am lured by these new cameras but looking at the lenses on my a6600, just don't know about using FF lenses.
Small mirrorless camera bodies have reached the limit of their video capabilities due to the laws of physics & overheating. Surely if someone is a video-centric shooter they have two basic options : 1. Continue to use a hybrid body for its lower profile/convenience but accept lower quality output ( which is "good enough" for most people ) or 2. buy a dedicated video camera eg. EOS C200.
Personally I wish camera manufacturers would stop this incessant push to create hybrid cameras. Can we get back to creating dedicated stills cameras ? Please.
Thank you for this awesome real world heat test. This is the kind of thing people really need to know before investing in a new body. As for me, I'll be sticking with my GH5 / GH5S.
Hey Hugh, another stellar video.
In your next video about the a7siii I'd love for you to talk about the viability of using the Sony A7siii for photography.
It seems with the pixel war we've forgotten how amazing pictures can look on a 'low' mega pixel ff sensor.
Thanks for all you do.
We have a few wonderful images taken with either the 4 megapixel Canon EOS 1D or 10 megapixel Leica M8.
@@3BMEP Exactly. There is something about the bigger size of the pixels that gives better image fedility or that little bit of sauce. Hopefully the photography chops of the A7siii won't be lost agmonst the video hype.
All this lovely tech coming out and this is exactly the thing that makes me second guess buying anything right now 4:54
I think this camera is beautiful for TH-camrs and videographers. But the better camera for most hybrid shooters is the R6, which can do most of what this camera can do, with a stills resolution that works for most working photographers.
@Olivier La Buse I agree. But not because of price. By spec the R6 is much closer to the A7s. But both Canon cameras are designed for photographer's first, while the Sony is obviously geared towards video work.
Can the sony A7siii give a better image then the BMPCC6K?
That’s what I want to know
@@ricklancaster2218 Can you let me know when you know
bdogdaprince yes. Let me know when u know 😂 I have a 6K I need to see if I should sell it or not because I really want autofocus
Rick Lancaster - Souled Out meee too. I just bought my bmpc6k... To be honest , I doubt that the Sony can match the bmpc6k. The Sony footage looks video'sk. The bmpc6k is cinematic.
bdogdaprince highlights look really nice on BM but do I really want an AC to pull my focus. Like what’s gonna make my vid look better dynamic movement and all that or slightly nicer footage