Sony Alpha 9 III super camera has weaknesses in image noise

Sony has not only introduced a new camera with the Alpha 9 III, but also a new sensor technology: The global shutter. This enables distortion-free images even with ultra-fast movements such as a golf club on the tee. Other advantages include an extremely high continuous shooting speed and insensitivity to flickering artificial light. The synchronisation time for flashes can also be almost as short as required.

Until now, however, it was not clear how much the new technology would compromise image quality. The portal dpreview.com has now published a test report that answers this with laboratory images.

More on the level of APS-C

According to dpreview.com, the image noise in the high ISO range is significantly worse than with other professional sports cameras such as the Canon R3 or the predecessor model Sony Alpha 9 II. The difference seems to be about one exposure level: at 6400 ISO, it already has a similar level of noise as other sports cameras with 12,800 ISO.

That's pretty intense. It roughly corresponds to the difference between a full-frame camera and a camera with an APS-C sensor. For sports photographers, performance at high ISO values is important. This is because the very fast movements that the global shutter can reproduce without distortion require ultra-short exposure times and therefore high ISO values.

The dynamic range, on the other hand, is less of a problem. It is just slightly lower because the base sensitivity is 250 ISO instead of the usual 100 ISO.

Only the best for special applications

This finding is not pleasing, but it is also not the killer for the Sony Alpha 9 III, as the global shutter opens up new possibilities for sports and action photographers. You simply won't get a distortion-free golf club on sale any other way. If that's exactly what you've been waiting for, you won't be impressed by a little more image noise. And sports photographers don't care about the slightly inferior dynamic range anyway. But one thing is also clear: with the current state of technology, the global shutter is only the best for special applications.