Sony Disposition

This mirrorless marvel sure isn’t cheap, but there’s no doubting its quality… We let the third version of the A7R put a smile on our face for a fortnight

DAY 01

Out of the box, I’m struggling to tell the Sony A7R III apart from the rest of its A7 family tree. It’s got the same angular silhouette, black finish, screen and electronic viewfinder. Surely Sony hasn’t just given its old system camera a new name and whacked on a hefty price tag?

No, I’m just being paranoid. Still, just like other A7 cameras, the body is chiefly made of metal, giving the A7R III the weight and sturdiness you’d expect from such a pricey camera – you could probably use it to hammer nails, although I’m not brave enough to try. There are smaller, lighter mirrorless cameras around, but this is still remarkably compact for a full-frame model.

As for physical controls, the thing is bristling with dials and buttons and dials, including three that I’ve already customised to give a shortcut to my most used settings. Not only that, but the LCD screen is touch-sensitive, so I can swipe through videos and photos I’ve taken, or tap an area of the screen to set the focus point. Working with the menu system and on-screen UI, the controls give plenty of scope for swift tweaks.

DAY 02