The A9III is my new all-around camera, and I use it for portraits and street photography. Casual BIF (Birds In Flight) is also part of the game. I had the A1 until yesterday, which I sold without regret before it depreciated to less than half of what I paid. I used the A1 alongside the A9III for two months, but after using the A9III, I just couldn't go back to the A1. The A9III is in another league. My main concerns were the base ISO (which is not an issue at all in real life) and the lower number of megapixels, but I seldom crop my images. If the next A1 is as good and offers 50 megapixels, I would buy the A1 II and keep this body as a second camera. The smaller file size of the A9III is a breeze for day-to-day use, as it saves much more space on my hard drives and memory cards. I don't need the 120fps, but this camera is a delight. When I need more pixels, I'll use the Nikon Z8, adapting Sony lenses to it. It works like a charm for scenarios where I want to crop (mainly macro). For me, the A9III is not just a camera, it's an experience. It's the best and most fun camera to use out there to date. I keep the Z8 just to use that wonderful 135mm Plena lens, and as mentioned before, by adapting Sony lenses to it, I effectively have two "Sony cameras" when needed and the Z8 is way cheaper than the A1. For my use it works as good or even better. If, like me, you are on the fence between the A1 and the A9III, I think the A9III is (REALLY) worth it if you don't do heavy cropping often. Just bear in mind that the A1 will depreciate heavily once the next version is announced at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025 and the lack of serious firmware updates is a let down. The camera is basically abandoned by Sony...
Great video! I agree with your conclusion: A1 is definitely the better all-rounder, but the A9 III simply unlocks photographs that are otherwise impossible! So the natural solution is... buy both 🤣!
@@amermeleitor I have an A7RV but I am willing to go from 60MP to 50MP, in order to go from 10FPS to 30FPS. I'd get the A1 right now if the A1II wasn't on the horizon. Surely it'll drop within the next 12 months or so.
I think we should just sit back and admire what a technical marvel this A9III is; how more choice is good; and that it is an amazing time to be a photographer. You are also selling me on the A1II when it comes out :)
Jan’s “testing” is spot on. And the issues addressed are what they are but to be honest, considering the pros of this camera quite negligible IMO. I think that’s why many get caught in analysis paralysis like my friend suggested in my case. The camera was released in late February and I didn’t get it until early May. Why? Analysis Paralysis. I watched all the videos. Listened to all the criticisms. But really if you think about it, there is no other camera out there that can get the shots this one can. Since I’ve had it I have been amazed at how great it is with the AF. The fact that you can tweak the settings in depth gives you even more of an advantage. Still room for improvement and finding your sweet spot. Seriously in my whole experience of using cameras I have not enjoyed shooting as much than with this system. It’s just great fun! This is not meant to be judgmental but sometimes listening to all the deep analysis can make your head hurt. Honestly how many people out there really care? Or think that deeply when they look at the image? The testing is what it is but 24 is way more than enough. I have a 61 mp A7RV and although it gets great detailed images I will pick up this A9 III anyday over the A7RV for wildlife. It’s nice having both though. For static bird shots if you really want that great detail yes the high resolution camera may give you that edge but honestly the images IMO coming out of the A9 III are great! I would say don’t let yourself be paralyzed by these negligible issues. The A9 III is revolutionary and a great release from Sony. My two cents.
Caught in this same paralysis. Have an A7R5 and want something with a higher frame rate. Worries I won’t be able to crop enough and have been waiting on the new A1ii. You’re saying you haven’t had issues cropping with the 24mp? Glad to hear you’re enjoying the A9iii and good to hear positive feedback.
@@RazeTheWeak After having this camera for over 3 months I must say that cropping hasn't really been something that has been an issue for me. And when I do crop I find whatever neglible issues that might pop are always fixed in post. In other words if you're looking for a camera that can get amazing action shots, especially sports or birds in flight, this is the camera. Waiting for the A1 Mark II may be awhile. That's where my head was for quite a few months until I finally decided to give it a whirl and I'm glad I did. This camera is so much fun to shoot! And if I need that "detail" I have my A7RV which to be honest I've hardly picked up. Good luck on your decision. If and when they ever come out with the A1 Mark II I'll cross that bridge when it happens. In the meantime I'm having a blast!
Very good Jan, as always. As a birder-photographer (i.e., shooting under natural conditions mostly with no setup) I am extremely interested in the ability of a camera to AF on the bird and stay locked on it. Your demonstration of the A9iii with a bird against the sea, and the A9iii choosing foliage rather than the bird are exactly the kind of tests that are most useful. I am always wondering how different bodies perform in this regard, but currently only have experience with the R5, which often does not meet my AF expectations. If you made a video dedicated solely to the AF capabilities under "difficult" (i.e., typical) bird situations, I bet a lot of people would find it useful. I'm wondering if I should switch from the R5 to a Sony or Nikon body, for example, but there are no videos that show a direct comparison to allow me to make this decision. Thanks again.
I have done a few and maybe be doing more when we have an R5 II. In the end most AF systems are very good and have their strength and weaknesses depending on the distortion they’re facing. I don’t think the AF alone is much of a switching consideration anymore, since they’re all pretty good.
Hi Jan, Nice video and review on the A9 Mark 3. As I had stated before, I am waiting for the A1 Mark 2 to drop sometime next year due to the lower megapixels on the A9 Mark 3. All of the items mentioned in your video are possible with diligence and a lot of practice with the A1. There are advantages with the global shutter on the A9 Mark 3 as you have stated in your review but with my particular type of BIF photography, I really don't notice any problems with my present setup of the Sony A1 and the Sony 400 F/2.8. Another thing worth mentioning might be the technique of pre-focusing on an object close to the subject to make it easier to get initial acquisition on the bird. I also find it advantageous to use the DMF on the lens in conjunction with the regular focus in situations where busy backgrounds might confuse the camera's autofocus. Thanks again for another great video, Steve (The Owl Man) Nanaimo B.C.
So I love what this camera can do for short term bird in flight photography. I use an a1 for anything which I feel will need to be cropped and an a9iii for fast action, pre capture and 60-120 fps. Best of both worlds.
Don’t think a GS will be the choice for it, but we’ll. A very fast stacked sensor probably makes the most sense It will be quite the camera tho I am sure
Thanks Jan for your comprehensive review, wish I could be in your shoes testing so much interesting equipment. Thanks for sharing your beautiful backyard captures too!
I totally agree with you Yan: 24mp is way too 'skinny' for me. I tend to crop lot and 45mp to 60mp is what I am lookjng for. I would love to see the R5 II with 50mp. How about you Yan ?
I watched the section around 15:00 several times. That blows my mind how well it tracked and how many images you got--great job to you and the camera! I'm impressed by the Sony, but doing a lot of incidental photography during travels, I'm still not finding a high-end compact lens >400mm. Still hard to beat Canon's 100-500 or Nikons new 600PF. Interested to see how the R5ii competes with the A9iii AF, but I think they're all getting so good that the limitation is keeping a bird in the viewfinder with clean backgrounds. Nikon's movement toward smaller prime lenses should be the fastest shortcut to aiding the human limitations.
Yes I agree. All AF systems these days are pretty good. And lens selection and especially lens size is starting to play a bigger role. Just like I used Sony’s 300mm lens rather than a bigger one. The 600pf is quite the lens for nature, that’s for sure
Thanks for making this video Jan. I'm currently looking to upgrade form my a7IV, for bird photography. I won't be getting this one, I'll just wait for the next year, hopefully they'll put some of these great features in A1II.
@@jan_wegenerHow does the 300mm with 2x / 1.4x extender perform in comparison to the Nikon 600pf? I'd love to have a small versatile lens in addition to my prime but Sony doesn't have many options at the moment. But I hesitate to buy a 300mm to mainly use it with teleconverters...
Great job reviewing it. Out of my reach though. I need to go with my G9II. BTW. I know that such a skilled guy like you may find those kind of aids seems silly but I find my Olympus EE-1 sight scope extremely usefull. When calibrated carefully for a specific distance it is precise just enough to be used with my RF 800mm f11 even on R7. @800mm equivalent it is no problem. It is a tremendous help for me when shooting birds in flight or even songbirds hopping around the bush. And it cost almost nothing and weighs nothing.
You have said it all and shown it all. Great video. Love the kingfisher shots. I have the luxury, that I hardly ever have to crop in my genre. So 24Mpx is fine for me. There will be an A1II with 50Mpx GS, just as there was the A1 after the A9 with a stacked sensor.
@@jan_wegener I guess, it all depends how advanced their development for a high res GS sensor is. GS will always be better. DR and noise are currently only an issue below ISO 500. Above, the A9III is already better than the Z8 and Z9 and on par with the A1 as shown on photons to photos. Personally, I will only upgrade the A1 if it has a GS.
Hi Jan, great to see you gave the impressive a9iii a decent run for its money with the awesome Kingfisher Challenge 👍 I wouldn't even consider trying to shoot them flying by at 50 to 80 km/h 🙈 I acknowledge it takes a lot of perseverance to attempt this, because it's not like they're on a schedule and zoom by every 5 minutes ! You're friend's Swallow action shots are equally impressive ! It's great to see this tech is coming, and I'm crossing my fingers Canon goes in the same direction .. starting with pre-capture, buffer management and speed boost. Today the a9iii is far beyond my budget, certainly with such limitations. However when the R5ii gets such shooting mode, shooting "only" 60 fps on stacked sensor would sound like a very compelling "compromise" to me 😀
@@jan_wegener genau ;-) maybe I was daydreaming a bit .. In any case, the Sony a9iii made clear which is the way to go regarding pre-capture/buffer/speedboost .. most certainly for people like us. It's not unlikely Canon doesn't have the exact same usability just yet. And my little toe tells me this might be a reason behind the latest 'production-test-delay' regarding the R1. Also I wouldn't be surprised when the R5ii only reaches a similar level regarding optimized action shooting via a firmware after the R1 has been released.
Thanks for this review, Jan - I believe I'll hold off on the camera - I only do Wildlife and the 24-Mpx has me worried, as you know we're always cropping and seems that might limit the use of this camera for me, even though the 120 FPS would be nice. I think it could do as a second body and use it in special circumstances, but then the price tag kind of kills that for me as well. for that kind of $$$ I'd get myself a CANON 2.8 400MM LENS. (used). Thanks again.
Excellent review, thank you, Jan. Any impact on battery life when you're using pre-capture? I think I'd like to use it all the time. My absolute wish here would be for this tech, but, in a crop-sensor body. Please, Sony, make one for us bird lovers!
Honestly this is the reason Gigapixel was created. or similar products that upscales images - 15:09 I would 99% much rather shoot 24 MP and then up-res a cropped image rather than get a blurry 61 MP shot all day. Getting the shot vs the alternative
Hi Jan! I enjoy your videos and this one was also nice. But I think you went very easy on this review… You pushed for the speed but you were tangent on the IQ… if you compare this review with the one you did for Canon R3, you’ll see that you went easy on this camera, even though you say that IQ lacks a bit. When comparing with other camera you also didn’t push to far, for example, you compare it with R5, but don’t forget that is a 4 year old camera without stacked sensor. A better comparison would be with the Z8, which also has only 20fps raw shooting… Anyway, I also think that global shutter isn’t actually necessary, having stacked sensors available, at least as long as we have to compromise the IQ in order to have GS…. Anyway, great photos! All best
I guess the difference here is that this camera can get me images I cannot really get with other bodies, whether it’s an R3, A1, Z8 or R5. Or at least not on a consistent basis. So it’s actually hard to compare this camera to any other body.
@@jan_wegener that’s true, I definitely agree, but, for example, the fact that you compared the R3 files with the R5 in terms of crispness in the detail was important to me, because I’m thinking of upgrading my R6 to a more powerful body, and, since I don’t really need 45 mp and the R3 is now super discounted, I was think about investing in one. But you comparison made lean more towards the R6 ii, which has, accordingly to several reviews, incredibly detailed and crisp files! Not to say that the a9iii doesn’t have, for what I’ve seen they’re very good files, but I just felt that your review lacked a bit on that regard. But, as I said, I enjoyed it very much and will keep watching your videos. Anyway, thank you for the reply! All best!
@@Carlos-tm6zkmakes sense. I usually make a video just about a camera and then may make a comparison video after, like I did with R3, too. I prefer the files out of the R6 II over the R3 files
I expect Sony will try to make an A1 Mk2 with a global shutter. That may still be a few years out, but I'd guess their management want a 50MP 120FPS global shutter camera to sell. We'll see if their engineers can make it work, and keep it usable (hard to fit enough RAM in to have a big enough buffer without making it excessively big or prone to overheating). It'd be an expensive camera, of course.
Great stuff about an amazing new camera! Please tell me straight :-). Have you ever taken photos of small and fast birds in flight using a Nikon Z9/Z8 or Canon R3 with the rolling shutter effect?
Yes and the rolling shutter doesn’t always become an issue, but it can. I wouldn’t really attempt this kingfisher challenge with these cameras tho, since it would be incredibly hard to get shots. If I get lucky with the A9 III and get maybe 5-6 good frames of a scene at 120fps, I may have gotten 1 or none at 20fps. I’m not saying you can’t get shots. I am sure if I tried long enough I’d get sone, but it would be very hard.
Fantastic photos. Great review. I think the A9iii is the ultimate wildlife camera….for now. Just need to wait for Sony to put the pre capture feature, new body, Ai AF, IBIS & maybe global shutter features in the A1 ii &/or A7R6 now….and accept a lower fps due to the higher res.
I see birds fighting each others all the time. Kind of surprised you don't have that. That's when 120FPS would really come in handy. Swallows basically do everything FAST.
Great video. -I've a Q: Does pre-capture work with back-button focus? --Or does it only work with half-press? -Not trivial.. -As for the eye detection sensitivity - I tried to find it in my A1 and it is non-existent (only the usual tracking sensitivity).
@@jan_wegener I would much appreciate getting to know that for sure, if you still have the 9iii and can spare the time to try it. For me and other wildlife enthusiasts - it is a non-trivial Q.
@@Noam_Kinrotwhen I tried only the shutter activated it. But I am not 100% sure if there’s a setting that changes that, even though I didn’t find it
@@jan_wegener I usually dedicate (back of camera) the top "stick" for track+eye,,, and the AF-On to "no-track" focus, and in the setup I limit the use to only the non-tracking modes - the outcome is you can use the "stick" as your "goto" focus, and if it gets frustrating, you can switch to using the "dumb" focus to get it where you want it to.
Have not used the A9, but I think the resolution would be a rather severe tradeoff. I like my A1 for action, but my A7RV is definitely better for picking out birds but 8-10 fps is ridiculously slow. Imagine an A7RV with 30 or 120 fps.
@@jan_wegener once the tracking is locked it doesn’t matter if it goes out of the zone it will stay locked on. Same with the small point. You could use the small point with tracking enabled and once locked with the small point the tracking follows it all over the screen.
I might make a video about that when we have an R5 II. All these systems are very good these days, but they all have strength and weaknesses. And in different situations one will outperform the other.
I was just saying if this camera does all that,why would I want one of the others. The cost is very high. If you could only buy one which one would you buy. I know they all do something different but if you could only buy one would it be the new Sony ? Great job. Young man to offend anyone
I wouldn't even attempt to shoot the Azure Kingfisher in electronic mode with my R5. It would be useless. I sure hope Canon gives us incredible improvements with the R5 II.
I enjoyed your review, and your points regarding the 24MP were spot on. I didn’t realize how much I relied on my A1’s 50MP and cropping until I started using the A9III. My first week with the A9III was rough because I was used to leaving more space to crop in post. Surprisingly, after shooting almost exclusively with the A9III for two months, I’m now much quicker and better at framing fast-moving shots.
Imagine if Canon could actually make an R1 camera like this with a bigger resolution sensor? Instead we have to accept what is more of an R3 refresh in a camera that's been mentioned in development for half a decade now...
All cameras that do not have a global shutter have a rolling shutter. The stacked sensor of the R3/A1/Z9 increases the speed that the rolling shutter can scan the image. This reduces the rolling shutter effect, but it does not go away.
@@yankiefrankiethe R3 sensor has a 5.5ms read out time, the A1 has 4.2ms readoit time, and the Z9 is 4.0ms. Ie, the R3, A1 & Z9 are very similar, and have minimal visible rolling shutter. My R5 has a 15.5ms, and the R6mkII @ 14.0ms, sensor readout time and rolling shutter can be a very visible issue in some shots. The R7 has a relatively terrible readout time or 31.3ms making the 30fps electronic shutter mode a redundant feature.
@@jan_wegener I picked one up at a show… being an all time canon user… mainly 1d and now r3… it felt like a toy … also didn’t appear to be weather resistant.. although I may be wrong 👍
With a < 2ms readout or less approaching zero a global shutter is not needed in a still camera. The 50 year gs technology as been superceded by near zero readout capability. Nice marketing howwver in 2024 the global shutter extreme trade off in still photography is rediculous.
Great stuff as usual Jan. Come on, we've got room on the Sony bandwagon for you! I agree that 24 MP just isn't enough for birds in a fair number of situations and that's what's kept me from buying this camera. For me the A1 is still the king and when the A1ii comes out I fully expect it to be the best bird photography body on the market...............at least for a little while. BTW did you ever try the A1 with the kingfishers? That would have given you enough MP. I'm just wondering if the AF would have kept up with them as well as the A9iii.
I didn’t dare to. Maybe the AF could’ve managed to find the bird, but often times I’d only get 5-6 photos of a fly by even with the 120fps. At 30fps that would equate to maybe 1 lucky photo before it’s out of view
Thank you for a great informative video. I guess for now I will stay with my A1’s since I’m really just an experienced amateur and I like the 50 Mpixels. I great view of what’s to come in the future. Wondering if you could share a link on the best setup for the Sony A1? I have your presets but still working on my field technique. Take care.
Considering the positives of this camera the resolution issues are negligible IMO. In my case I also have the A7R5 for static shots etc. I got the A9 III simply because it’s the best camera out there for action and has the best AF I’ve ever used. Jan’s analysis is well presented But the testing is what the testing is. The bottom line is the IQ is outstanding and this camera is unmatched in terms of the types of shots it can get. Having the precapture feature is a plus as well and Sony makes it easy unlike some of the other brands out there.
The A9III is my new all-around camera, and I use it for portraits and street photography. Casual BIF (Birds In Flight) is also part of the game. I had the A1 until yesterday, which I sold without regret before it depreciated to less than half of what I paid. I used the A1 alongside the A9III for two months, but after using the A9III, I just couldn't go back to the A1. The A9III is in another league.
My main concerns were the base ISO (which is not an issue at all in real life) and the lower number of megapixels, but I seldom crop my images. If the next A1 is as good and offers 50 megapixels, I would buy the A1 II and keep this body as a second camera.
The smaller file size of the A9III is a breeze for day-to-day use, as it saves much more space on my hard drives and memory cards. I don't need the 120fps, but this camera is a delight. When I need more pixels, I'll use the Nikon Z8, adapting Sony lenses to it. It works like a charm for scenarios where I want to crop (mainly macro).
For me, the A9III is not just a camera, it's an experience. It's the best and most fun camera to use out there to date. I keep the Z8 just to use that wonderful 135mm Plena lens, and as mentioned before, by adapting Sony lenses to it, I effectively have two "Sony cameras" when needed and the Z8 is way cheaper than the A1. For my use it works as good or even better.
If, like me, you are on the fence between the A1 and the A9III, I think the A9III is (REALLY) worth it if you don't do heavy cropping often. Just bear in mind that the A1 will depreciate heavily once the next version is announced at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025 and the lack of serious firmware updates is a let down. The camera is basically abandoned by Sony...
Great video! I agree with your conclusion: A1 is definitely the better all-rounder, but the A9 III simply unlocks photographs that are otherwise impossible! So the natural solution is... buy both 🤣!
Or you could take both apart and combine them ..if you knew what yoi were doing
Wait the A1 II
@@amermeleitor Costing 12,000
@@amermeleitor I have an A7RV but I am willing to go from 60MP to 50MP, in order to go from 10FPS to 30FPS. I'd get the A1 right now if the A1II wasn't on the horizon. Surely it'll drop within the next 12 months or so.
@@colintraveller well, Sony cameras are pricier than competition, but you have access to every third party lens for far less than competition.
Excellent review. The fly catch photos in mid-air, by Duncan Groenewald, were amazing as was your ability to track king fishers in flight.
Thanks!
Your bird photography with a9iii and all the other cams are exceptional
Thank you!
The Kingfisher shots are outstanding! It's really next level photography, great job!
Thank you!
I think we should just sit back and admire what a technical marvel this A9III is; how more choice is good; and that it is an amazing time to be a photographer. You are also selling me on the A1II when it comes out :)
I think I sold myself on it, too 😂
Jan’s “testing” is spot on. And the issues addressed are what they are but to be honest, considering the pros of this camera quite negligible IMO. I think that’s why many get caught in analysis paralysis like my friend suggested in my case. The camera was released in late February and I didn’t get it until early May. Why? Analysis Paralysis. I watched all the videos. Listened to all the criticisms. But really if you think about it, there is no other camera out there that can get the shots this one can. Since I’ve had it I have been amazed at how great it is with the AF. The fact that you can tweak the settings in depth gives you even more of an advantage. Still room for improvement and finding your sweet spot. Seriously in my whole experience of using cameras I have not enjoyed shooting as much than with this system. It’s just great fun! This is not meant to be judgmental but sometimes listening to all the deep analysis can make your head hurt. Honestly how many people out there really care? Or think that deeply when they look at the image? The testing is what it is but 24 is way more than enough. I have a 61 mp A7RV and although it gets great detailed images I will pick up this A9 III anyday over the A7RV for wildlife. It’s nice having both though. For static bird shots if you really want that great detail yes the high resolution camera may give you that edge but honestly the images IMO coming out of the A9 III are great! I would say don’t let yourself be paralyzed by these negligible issues. The A9 III is revolutionary and a great release from Sony. My two cents.
Thanks for sharing your insights. Fun is also how I would describe this camera
Caught in this same paralysis. Have an A7R5 and want something with a higher frame rate. Worries I won’t be able to crop enough and have been waiting on the new A1ii. You’re saying you haven’t had issues cropping with the 24mp? Glad to hear you’re enjoying the A9iii and good to hear positive feedback.
@@RazeTheWeak After having this camera for over 3 months I must say that cropping hasn't really been something that has been an issue for me. And when I do crop I find whatever neglible issues that might pop are always fixed in post. In other words if you're looking for a camera that can get amazing action shots, especially sports or birds in flight, this is the camera. Waiting for the A1 Mark II may be awhile. That's where my head was for quite a few months until I finally decided to give it a whirl and I'm glad I did. This camera is so much fun to shoot! And if I need that "detail" I have my A7RV which to be honest I've hardly picked up. Good luck on your decision. If and when they ever come out with the A1 Mark II I'll cross that bridge when it happens. In the meantime I'm having a blast!
That swallow series is incredible! Cheers to that photographer and sony, just unreal captures.
Very good Jan, as always. As a birder-photographer (i.e., shooting under natural conditions mostly with no setup) I am extremely interested in the ability of a camera to AF on the bird and stay locked on it. Your demonstration of the A9iii with a bird against the sea, and the A9iii choosing foliage rather than the bird are exactly the kind of tests that are most useful. I am always wondering how different bodies perform in this regard, but currently only have experience with the R5, which often does not meet my AF expectations. If you made a video dedicated solely to the AF capabilities under "difficult" (i.e., typical) bird situations, I bet a lot of people would find it useful. I'm wondering if I should switch from the R5 to a Sony or Nikon body, for example, but there are no videos that show a direct comparison to allow me to make this decision. Thanks again.
I have done a few and maybe be doing more when we have an R5 II. In the end most AF systems are very good and have their strength and weaknesses depending on the distortion they’re facing. I don’t think the AF alone is much of a switching consideration anymore, since they’re all pretty good.
Hi Jan, Nice video and review on the A9 Mark 3. As I had stated before, I am waiting for the A1 Mark 2 to drop sometime next year due to the lower megapixels on the A9 Mark 3. All of the items mentioned in your video are possible with diligence and a lot of practice with the A1. There are advantages with the global shutter on the A9 Mark 3 as you have stated in your review but with my particular type of BIF photography, I really don't notice any problems with my present setup of the Sony A1 and the Sony 400 F/2.8. Another thing worth mentioning might be the technique of pre-focusing on an object close to the subject to make it easier to get initial acquisition on the bird. I also find it advantageous to use the DMF on the lens in conjunction with the regular focus in situations where busy backgrounds might confuse the camera's autofocus. Thanks again for another great video, Steve (The Owl Man) Nanaimo B.C.
Amazing birds you have in your backyard. Super!
Thank you! Yes it’s nice to have them for cameras tests 😀
Amazing images. Showing what that camera can do with a pro using it.
So I love what this camera can do for short term bird in flight photography. I use an a1 for anything which I feel will need to be cropped and an a9iii for fast action, pre capture and 60-120 fps. Best of both worlds.
Yes, a great 1-2 punch
Wow Jan those flying kingfisher shots are amazing! I can’t believe how you managed to get them in your viewfinder, they are sooo fast! Great job 👍
It was hard, but I got some in the end 😀
Now imagine a1ii with 45mp global shutter and somehow has same noise levels as a9iii 😮
Won't happen, no GS there, but probably a faster stacked 50MP sensor with a max of 60 FPS and a boost rate with maybe 90 FPS
Don’t think a GS will be the choice for it, but we’ll. A very fast stacked sensor probably makes the most sense
It will be quite the camera tho I am sure
Thanks Jan for your comprehensive review, wish I could be in your shoes testing so much interesting equipment.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful backyard captures too!
Thanks for watching!
Great review, Jan!
I totally agree with you Yan: 24mp is way too 'skinny' for me. I tend to crop lot and 45mp to 60mp is what I am lookjng for. I would love to see the R5 II with 50mp. How about you Yan ?
Those kingfisher shots 😮💨😮💨😮💨👌👌🤌🤌🤌
I watched the section around 15:00 several times. That blows my mind how well it tracked and how many images you got--great job to you and the camera! I'm impressed by the Sony, but doing a lot of incidental photography during travels, I'm still not finding a high-end compact lens >400mm. Still hard to beat Canon's 100-500 or Nikons new 600PF. Interested to see how the R5ii competes with the A9iii AF, but I think they're all getting so good that the limitation is keeping a bird in the viewfinder with clean backgrounds. Nikon's movement toward smaller prime lenses should be the fastest shortcut to aiding the human limitations.
Yes I agree. All AF systems these days are pretty good. And lens selection and especially lens size is starting to play a bigger role. Just like I used Sony’s 300mm lens rather than a bigger one.
The 600pf is quite the lens for nature, that’s for sure
Thanks for making this video Jan. I'm currently looking to upgrade form my a7IV, for bird photography. I won't be getting this one, I'll just wait for the next year, hopefully they'll put some of these great features in A1II.
Great review & fantastic photos. Bravo !
Stellar!
Amazing review and stunning pictures! Thanks a lot! I'm also especially surprised that the AF worked so well on the 300mm even with the 2x extender!
Yes it was very fast!
@@jan_wegenerHow does the 300mm with 2x / 1.4x extender perform in comparison to the Nikon 600pf? I'd love to have a small versatile lens in addition to my prime but Sony doesn't have many options at the moment. But I hesitate to buy a 300mm to mainly use it with teleconverters...
The smile at 12:53 is too true when you know you got a good one 😂
Great job reviewing it. Out of my reach though. I need to go with my G9II. BTW. I know that such a skilled guy like you may find those kind of aids seems silly but I find my Olympus EE-1 sight scope extremely usefull. When calibrated carefully for a specific distance it is precise just enough to be used with my RF 800mm f11 even on R7. @800mm equivalent it is no problem. It is a tremendous help for me when shooting birds in flight or even songbirds hopping around the bush. And it cost almost nothing and weighs nothing.
Might have to try it
And there i was expecting you to be joining us in the Kgalagadi and Botswana for some lighting fast Lanner falcons catching grouse. Its A9III country.
You have said it all and shown it all. Great video. Love the kingfisher shots. I have the luxury, that I hardly ever have to crop in my genre. So 24Mpx is fine for me. There will be an A1II with 50Mpx GS, just as there was the A1 after the A9 with a stacked sensor.
We will see, I wonder if for an A1 II a super fast stacked sensor makes more sense
@@jan_wegener I guess, it all depends how advanced their development for a high res GS sensor is. GS will always be better. DR and noise are currently only an issue below ISO 500. Above, the A9III is already better than the Z8 and Z9 and on par with the A1 as shown on photons to photos. Personally, I will only upgrade the A1 if it has a GS.
Excellent review as always!
Thank you! Cheers!
Maybe one day we get a crop sensor with the global shutter.
Hi Jan, great to see you gave the impressive a9iii a decent run for its money with the awesome Kingfisher Challenge 👍
I wouldn't even consider trying to shoot them flying by at 50 to 80 km/h 🙈 I acknowledge it takes a lot of perseverance to attempt this, because it's not like they're on a schedule and zoom by every 5 minutes !
You're friend's Swallow action shots are equally impressive !
It's great to see this tech is coming, and I'm crossing my fingers Canon goes in the same direction .. starting with pre-capture, buffer management and speed boost. Today the a9iii is far beyond my budget, certainly with such limitations.
However when the R5ii gets such shooting mode, shooting "only" 60 fps on stacked sensor would sound like a very compelling "compromise" to me 😀
Will be interesting to see what’s coming up! At this stage it feels like the expectations are sky high, so I wonder if they can be met
@@jan_wegener genau ;-) maybe I was daydreaming a bit ..
In any case, the Sony a9iii made clear which is the way to go regarding pre-capture/buffer/speedboost .. most certainly for people like us. It's not unlikely Canon doesn't have the exact same usability just yet. And my little toe tells me this might be a reason behind the latest 'production-test-delay' regarding the R1. Also I wouldn't be surprised when the R5ii only reaches a similar level regarding optimized action shooting via a firmware after the R1 has been released.
Amazing video, quick question. Is it compatible with the battery grip, VG-C3EM? Thank you
Can u do a review of the fuji xh2-s plus fujinion 150-600mm lens.
Thanks.
Appreciate ypur awesome work
Thanks for this review, Jan - I believe I'll hold off on the camera - I only do Wildlife and the 24-Mpx has me worried, as you know we're always cropping and seems that might limit the use of this camera for me, even though the 120 FPS would be nice. I think it could do as a second body and use it in special circumstances, but then the price tag kind of kills that for me as well. for that kind of $$$ I'd get myself a CANON 2.8 400MM LENS. (used). Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing
Excellent review, thank you, Jan. Any impact on battery life when you're using pre-capture? I think I'd like to use it all the time. My absolute wish here would be for this tech, but, in a crop-sensor body. Please, Sony, make one for us bird lovers!
I had it on all the time and battery life was fine
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Honestly this is the reason Gigapixel was created. or similar products that upscales images - 15:09
I would 99% much rather shoot 24 MP and then up-res a cropped image rather than get a blurry 61 MP shot all day.
Getting the shot vs the alternative
You can not have everthing. It will always give higher, further, faster!
16:22 wow
Hi Jan!
I enjoy your videos and this one was also nice. But I think you went very easy on this review…
You pushed for the speed but you were tangent on the IQ… if you compare this review with the one you did for Canon R3, you’ll see that you went easy on this camera, even though you say that IQ lacks a bit.
When comparing with other camera you also didn’t push to far, for example, you compare it with R5, but don’t forget that is a 4 year old camera without stacked sensor. A better comparison would be with the Z8, which also has only 20fps raw shooting…
Anyway, I also think that global shutter isn’t actually necessary, having stacked sensors available, at least as long as we have to compromise the IQ in order to have GS….
Anyway, great photos!
All best
I guess the difference here is that this camera can get me images I cannot really get with other bodies, whether it’s an R3, A1, Z8 or R5. Or at least not on a consistent basis.
So it’s actually hard to compare this camera to any other body.
@@jan_wegener that’s true, I definitely agree, but, for example, the fact that you compared the R3 files with the R5 in terms of crispness in the detail was important to me, because I’m thinking of upgrading my R6 to a more powerful body, and, since I don’t really need 45 mp and the R3 is now super discounted, I was think about investing in one. But you comparison made lean more towards the R6 ii, which has, accordingly to several reviews, incredibly detailed and crisp files!
Not to say that the a9iii doesn’t have, for what I’ve seen they’re very good files, but I just felt that your review lacked a bit on that regard.
But, as I said, I enjoyed it very much and will keep watching your videos.
Anyway, thank you for the reply!
All best!
@@Carlos-tm6zkmakes sense. I usually make a video just about a camera and then may make a comparison video after, like I did with R3, too.
I prefer the files out of the R6 II over the R3 files
I expect Sony will try to make an A1 Mk2 with a global shutter. That may still be a few years out, but I'd guess their management want a 50MP 120FPS global shutter camera to sell. We'll see if their engineers can make it work, and keep it usable (hard to fit enough RAM in to have a big enough buffer without making it excessively big or prone to overheating). It'd be an expensive camera, of course.
Great stuff about an amazing new camera! Please tell me straight :-). Have you ever taken photos of small and fast birds in flight using a Nikon Z9/Z8 or Canon R3 with the rolling shutter effect?
Yes and the rolling shutter doesn’t always become an issue, but it can. I wouldn’t really attempt this kingfisher challenge with these cameras tho, since it would be incredibly hard to get shots. If I get lucky with the A9 III and get maybe 5-6 good frames of a scene at 120fps, I may have gotten 1 or none at 20fps.
I’m not saying you can’t get shots. I am sure if I tried long enough I’d get sone, but it would be very hard.
Fantastic photos. Great review.
I think the A9iii is the ultimate wildlife camera….for now.
Just need to wait for Sony to put the pre capture feature, new body, Ai AF, IBIS & maybe global shutter features in the A1 ii &/or A7R6 now….and accept a lower fps due to the higher res.
Very curious of your findings about this camera body Jan! Let’s hope canon listen to what we want too 😃
I hope so too!
in short global shutters are awesome but wait for an a1mk ii or a nikon with GS ..
EE-1 solves hand eye coordination.
I see birds fighting each others all the time. Kind of surprised you don't have that. That's when 120FPS would really come in handy. Swallows basically do everything FAST.
Yes that would be great, but I don’t get many or any fights here
Great video. -I've a Q: Does pre-capture work with back-button focus? --Or does it only work with half-press? -Not trivial.. -As for the eye detection sensitivity - I tried to find it in my A1 and it is non-existent (only the usual tracking sensitivity).
I think it only works with half pressing the shutter button
@@jan_wegener I would much appreciate getting to know that for sure, if you still have the 9iii and can spare the time to try it. For me and other wildlife enthusiasts - it is a non-trivial Q.
@@Noam_Kinrotwhen I tried only the shutter activated it. But I am not 100% sure if there’s a setting that changes that, even though I didn’t find it
@@jan_wegener I usually dedicate (back of camera) the top "stick" for track+eye,,, and the AF-On to "no-track" focus, and in the setup I limit the use to only the non-tracking modes - the outcome is you can use the "stick" as your "goto" focus, and if it gets frustrating, you can switch to using the "dumb" focus to get it where you want it to.
Have not used the A9, but I think the resolution would be a rather severe tradeoff. I like my A1 for action, but my A7RV is definitely better for picking out birds but 8-10 fps is ridiculously slow. Imagine an A7RV with 30 or 120 fps.
Yes, 10fps is quite slow these days
how come you don't use tracking? I always see the little green boxes following your birds instead of the tracking box.
I feel like the wide area AF does the best job and if I use a zone with tracking it’s much easier to accidentally slip out of the zone and lose focus
@@jan_wegener once the tracking is locked it doesn’t matter if it goes out of the zone it will stay locked on. Same with the small point. You could use the small point with tracking enabled and once locked with the small point the tracking follows it all over the screen.
If you use back button focus. Does that mean you need 3 fingers to operate shutter ,focus and speed boost button
Correct
Which autofocus do you think is better, Sony A9 III or Canon R6 II?
I might make a video about that when we have an R5 II.
All these systems are very good these days, but they all have strength and weaknesses. And in different situations one will outperform the other.
Give me a camera that the A9III has, but with 45-61mp
We would all love that!
What is the bird at 7:03 ?
A very nice bit of kit but it’s way out of my affordability
I was just saying if this camera does all that,why would I want one of the others. The cost is very high. If you could only buy one which one would you buy. I know they all do something different but if you could only buy one would it be the new Sony ? Great job. Young man to offend anyone
No. They all have pros and cons.
That's like saying are Ford and Honda dead because Ferrari exists
Can the pre capture be used for Waves and various other subjects .
It’ll work with any subject
I wouldn't even attempt to shoot the Azure Kingfisher in electronic mode with my R5. It would be useless. I sure hope Canon gives us incredible improvements with the R5 II.
Fingers crossed
I enjoyed your review, and your points regarding the 24MP were spot on. I didn’t realize how much I relied on my A1’s 50MP and cropping until I started using the A9III. My first week with the A9III was rough because I was used to leaving more space to crop in post. Surprisingly, after shooting almost exclusively with the A9III for two months, I’m now much quicker and better at framing fast-moving shots.
Imagine if Canon could actually make an R1 camera like this with a bigger resolution sensor? Instead we have to accept what is more of an R3 refresh in a camera that's been mentioned in development for half a decade now...
We will have to wait and see what it will be like, it sure feels like we could use something like this!
that price tag
does the r3 have rolling shutter?
All cameras that do not have a global shutter have a rolling shutter. The stacked sensor of the R3/A1/Z9 increases the speed that the rolling shutter can scan the image. This reduces the rolling shutter effect, but it does not go away.
@@yankiefrankiethe R3 sensor has a 5.5ms read out time, the A1 has 4.2ms readoit time, and the Z9 is 4.0ms. Ie, the R3, A1 & Z9 are very similar, and have minimal visible rolling shutter.
My R5 has a 15.5ms, and the R6mkII @ 14.0ms, sensor readout time and rolling shutter can be a very visible issue in some shots.
The R7 has a relatively terrible readout time or 31.3ms making the 30fps electronic shutter mode a redundant feature.
In short yes, does it show up a lot? No. But I have had it in certain situations
Definitely not as bad as all the other Canon bodies
Not for me … 1.. ergonomics.. 2.. image quality… 3 expensive… for what it is… not versatile…I’m waiting for r1 or r5 11
What’s wrong with the ergonomics on this body?
@@jan_wegener I picked one up at a show… being an all time canon user… mainly 1d and now r3… it felt like a toy … also didn’t appear to be weather resistant.. although I may be wrong 👍
As with the Canon R3, 24MP just isn't enough for birds. To me, 45MP is really the minimum for our genre.
With a < 2ms readout or less approaching zero a global shutter is not needed in a still camera. The 50 year gs technology as been superceded by near zero readout capability. Nice marketing howwver in 2024 the global shutter extreme trade off in still photography is rediculous.
Which cameras has readouts that low? The fastest I can find in a mirrorless is 4.0ms for the Z8?
24mp is not enough for wildlife photography, especially bird photos. A1 still a much better choice
Nonsense.
Overpriced 24MP camera. Jan is the third of fourth TH-cam reviewer who has said the A9III is a backup/secondary camera. LOL!
It adds an element no other body can atm, so that it’s the great appeal.
Global shutter isn't as great as people think it is...
And your comment is not as useful as you think!
@@renestaempfli1071 LOL, like your comment has any value at all..
🍿
Note that the Z9(or Z8)is slower but also gives ability to crop. Which for small birds can be very usefull
Great stuff as usual Jan. Come on, we've got room on the Sony bandwagon for you! I agree that 24 MP just isn't enough for birds in a fair number of situations and that's what's kept me from buying this camera. For me the A1 is still the king and when the A1ii comes out I fully expect it to be the best bird photography body on the market...............at least for a little while. BTW did you ever try the A1 with the kingfishers? That would have given you enough MP. I'm just wondering if the AF would have kept up with them as well as the A9iii.
I didn’t dare to. Maybe the AF could’ve managed to find the bird, but often times I’d only get 5-6 photos of a fly by even with the 120fps. At 30fps that would equate to maybe 1 lucky photo before it’s out of view
Thank you for a great informative video. I guess for now I will stay with my A1’s since I’m really just an experienced amateur and I like the 50 Mpixels. I great view of what’s to come in the future. Wondering if you could share a link on the best setup for the Sony A1? I have your presets but still working on my field technique. Take care.
I don’t have an A1 guide atm. Was thinking of making one, but then wondered if I should hold off till A1 II
unfortunately with this camera body you are sacrificing image quality for features
If they implement more than 24mp with that 120fps. We would exhaust the Terabyte of data in minutes, sorry seconds 😂
@@thebeautifulanimal anything beyond 15fps you might as well just record a video
Considering the positives of this camera the resolution issues are negligible IMO. In my case I also have the A7R5 for static shots etc. I got the A9 III simply because it’s the best camera out there for action and has the best AF I’ve ever used. Jan’s analysis is well presented But the testing is what the testing is. The bottom line is the IQ is outstanding and this camera is unmatched in terms of the types of shots it can get. Having the precapture feature is a plus as well and Sony makes it easy unlike some of the other brands out there.