DxOMark Published Sony a7S III Sensor Review: 86 Points

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DxOMark completed their tests and review of 12.1MP sensor inside the Sony a7S III camera ($3,498): The Sony a7S III gets an outstanding overall DxOmark score of 86 points (just 1 point above the Sony a7S II), with a combination of 23.7 bits color depth, 13.9 EV dynamic range, and 2520 ISO low-light score.

Sony a7S III Key Features:

  • 12.1MP full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor
  • BIONZ XR processing engine delivers 8x processing power
  • Up to 4K 120p 10-bit 4:2:2 and full pixel readout
  • 3-inch flip-out, vari-angle LCD monitor with touch menu
  • 0.64-inch 9.44m-dot QXGA OLED eye-level viewfinder
  • High-speed 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi / FTP transfer
  • Dual card slots for CFexpress Type A and SDXC/SDHC
  • SuperSpeed USB-C with power delivery and Ethernet wired LAN
  • XAVC S (AVC), XAVC HS (HEVC) and XAVC S-I (All-I) modes
  • 759 phase-detection AF points and real-time AF tracking

Conclusion from DxOMark:

The Sony A7S III leverages a lot of tech from the A7 and A7R models, and its stills credentials are impressive. However, 12 MP is considered a bit on the low side for stills nowadays, and it is principally as a video camera that the Sony A7S III appeals. The lower pixel count means the sensor’s pixel dimensions on the long edge deliver essentially native 4K without cropping, and those large pixels should have benefits when working with less than ideal lighting.

Although it puts in a strong performance at its lowest ISO settings, with a relatively high maximum dynamic range and maximum color sensitivity, evidently some concessions were made in that regard, as it is at high ISOs where it’s class-leading. In particular, the Sony A7S III sensor has an impressive response between ISO 1600 and ISO 6400, even outperforming rivals using 24 MP BSI CMOS sensors.

Whether that’s enough to entice dedicated stills photographers is debatable, given the price, but videographers are likely to be attracted by the benefits it brings in post-production, especially when working in S-Log. With excellent high ISO image quality, small size, low weight, and a built-in stabilizer, the Sony A7S III is highly appealing as a versatile hand-held camera for single operators or small production crews.

Sony a7S III: $3,498 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

You can read the full review at DxOMark.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a7S III and Best Memory Cards for Sony a7S III.