Sony a7iii Best Video Settings

The Sony α7 III is an interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera with a 35mm full-frame image sensor, 24.2MP resolution, 5-axis stabilization, fast auto-focus response, and full-frame 4K HDR.

Is it good for video, vlogging, video production, videographers, videography?

Sony a7III Price in Singapore

As at March 2019…

Body Only (ILCE-7M3) S$2,899.00
Body + 28-70mm Zoom Lens (ILCE-7M3K) S$3,299.00

SD CARD

4K recording employs XAVC S format at bitrates as high as 100 Mbps. A Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC card is required for XAVC S format movie recording. UHS Speed Class 3 or higher card is required for 100 Mbps recording.

Recommended Memory Cards:

SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I V30 U3 Class10 95MBPS Card (for slots 1 and 2, must have V30)
Sandisk Extreme Pro 128 GB SDXC UHS-II U3 Class10 300MBPS Card (for slot 1 only, for 4K recording)

Note: 128GB is just comfortable to shoot a long event video. 128GB holds about 2.5 hours of video. 64GB is too small, hence you need to keep changing cards. 256GB is possible, but it’s a personal choice. There are other brands, but I have been using Sandisk for years without issues.

Sony a7 III vs Sony a7 II

Sony a7 III	Sony a7 II
Price: Mar 2019 US$1998	Price: Mar 2019 US$998
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Released Feb 2018	Released Nov 2014
24.2MP	24.3MP
10fps silent (photo)	5fps (photo)
ISO 50-51,200	ISO 50-25,600
693 phase detect points	117 phase detect points
Faster Auto Focus	–
Better Battery Life	–
Touch-screen Focus	No Touch-screen Focus 😟
FHD 120p, 4K 30p max	FHD 60p max 😟
2 SD Card Slots	1 SD Card Slot
— same —
Microphone Input	Microphone Input
Headphone Output	Headphone Output
5-axis stabilisation	5-axis stabilisation
30-min video limit 😟	30-min video limit 😟
No Flip Screen 😟	No Flip Screen 😟
— extra info —
Best SD Card: SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I V30 U3 Class10 95MBPS Card (for slots 1 and 2, must have V30) Sandisk Extreme Pro 128 GB SDXC UHS-II U3 Class10 300MBPS Card (for slot 1 only, for 4K recording) https://www.sonyrumors.co/best-memory-cards-for-sony-a7-iii/	Best SD Card: SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I V30 U3 Class10 95MBPS Card https://alikgriffin.com/best-sd-memory-card-for-the-sony-a7ii/

Sony a7 III vs Sony a7R III

The Sony Alpha A7R III combines a high-resolution sensor with an impressive 10fps continuous shooting speed and powerful 4K video features.

But the new Sony Alpha A7 III matches it in practically every respect except resolution, has a better autofocus system and buffer capacity in continuous shooting mode, and sells for less than two-thirds the price.

The a7R III costs $2000 more, but the A7 III has better AF and better low light performance.

EVF = Electronic View Finder

vs a6500

VS Panasonic GH5

GH5 is lighter, with camera and lens, 10-bit codec, and deeper depth of field, and will record until the SD card fills up.. The A7III is heavier, camera and lenses, 8-bit codec, shallower depth of field, better continuous autofocus, better dynamic range, and better high ISO performance, and stops recording after 30 minutes.

VS Canon EOS R

The Canon EOS R is about the same price but doesn’t have 5-axis stabilization, no dual SD card slots, 4K cropped at x1.74.

VS Canon M50

The Canon M50 4K is only 24fps with crop.

Sony A7III Best Video Settings

Universal Setting

— RESETTING THE CAMERA —
Go to Menu tab5 screen7.
Setting Reset | Initialize | OK (Do this only once when you take over the camera from someone else who may have messed up the setting)
— SETTING TO VIDEO MODE —
Set Mode Dial to video mode.
Ensure Exposure Compensation Dial is at 0.
— FORMATTING SD CARD —
Insert the SD Card.
Press the MENU button.
Go to Menu tab5 screen5.
Format SD CARD. (Do this once for every new project to ensure sufficient storage space)
— SETTING UP CARD SLOTS —
Go to Menu tab5 screen6.
Rec. Media Settings | Prioritize Rec. Media: Slot 1 | Recording Mode: Simult (video) | Auto Switch Media: On
— SETTING UP FOR VIDEO OPERATION —
Go to Menu tab5 screen2.
Auto Pwr OFF Temp.: High
Touch Operation: On
Go to Menu tab2 screen3.
Movie w/ shutter: On
— SETTING MONITOR BRIGHTNESS —
Go to Menu tab5 screen1.
Monitor Brightness | Brightness Setup: Sunny Weather
— SETTING STABILIZATION —
Go to Menu tab2 screen4.
SteadyShot: (Off when using tripod / On when handheld)
— SETTING MANUAL EXPOSURE —
Go to Menu tab2 screen1.
Exposure Mode: Manual Exposure
— SETTING FILE FORMAT —
File Format: XAVC S 4K / XAVC S HD / AVCHD
Record Setting: 30p 100M (XAVC S 4K) / 30p 50M (XAVC S HD)
— FIXING SHUTTER SPEED —
FIX the shutter speed to 1/60 by adjusting the Rear Dial.
— SETTING ISO —
Press Fn.
Set ISO: 800 (the native limit in S-Log)
— SETTING DISPLAY —
Press DISP.
Turn on Histogram and Level.
— SETTING CONTINUOUS AUTOFOCUS —
Press Fn.
Focus Mode: Continuous AF
Focus Area: Expand Flexible Spot
Go to Menu tab1 screen6.
Set. Face Prty in AF: On | Face Dtct Frame Dsp: On
— SETTING WHITE BALANCE —
Press Fn.
White Balance | Custom Setup | Point the camera at a white or grey object | Press the control wheel enter button
— SETTING CREATIVE STYLE —
Go to Menu tab1 screen12.
Creative Style: Standard
— ADJUSTING APERTURE —
Set the aperture for exposure depending on the scene by adjusting the front dial.
— SETTING AUDIO —
Go to Menu tab2 screen2.
Audio Recording: On
Audio Rec Level: Adjust so level won’t hit the red.
— SETTING FOR SILENT OPERATION —
Go to Menu tab2 screen9.
Audio Signals: Off
— SETTING ZEBRA INDICATORS —
Go to Menu tab2 screen6.
Zebra Setting | Display: On | Level: 70
— SETTING MANUAL FOCUS ASSIST —
Go to Menu tab1 screen13.
MF Assist: On
Peaking Setting | Display: On | Level: Mid | Color: White
— SETTING PICTURE PROFILE —
Go to Menu tab5 screen1.
Gamma Disp Assist: Auto
Go to Menu tab1 screen12.
Picture Profile | PP1 to PP2 | Personal Preference

Picture Profiles

Picture Profiles:
- Cine4 Profile for night shoots | From https://youtu.be/wSesP08LCcs | Black Level: +5, Gamma: Cine4, Black Gamma Range: Middle, Black Gamma Level: +6, Knee Mode: Manual/Point:80%/Slope:+2, Color Mode: S-Gamut3 Cine, Saturation: +3, Color Phase: +3 | Color Depth: R+1/G-2/B+3/C+3/M+3/Y0 | Detail Level: 0
- S-Log2 Profile for daytime 120fps shoots | From https://youtu.be/wSesP08LCcs | Black Level: +5 | Gamma: S-Log2 | Black Gamma Range: Wide, Level: +5 | Knee Mode: Manual, Point:80%, Slope:+2 | Color Mode: S-Gamut3 Cine | Saturation: +3 | Color Phase: +3 | Color Depth: R+2/G-0/B+3/C+3/M+2/Y+2 | Detail Level: 0
- S-Log3 Profile for daytime 120fps shoots | From https://youtu.be/wSesP08LCcs | Black Level: +5 | Gamma: S-Log3 | Black Gamma Range: Wide, Level: +5 | Knee Mode: Manual, Point: 80%, Slope: +2 | Color Mode: S-Gamut3 Cine | Saturation: +3 | Color Phase: +3 | Color Depth: R+1/G-0/B+3/C+3/M+2/Y+2 | Detail Level: 0
Go to SECOND MENU TAB
- Set dial 1 custom setting for regular 4K shoots | File Format: XAVC S 4K | Record Setting: 24p 100M | Shutter: 1/50 | Aperture: Widest if possible | ISO: 800 (the native limit in S-logs)
- Set dial 2 custom setting for slow motion 120p shoots | File Format: XAVC S HD | Record Setting: 120p 100M | Shutter: 1/250 | Aperture: Widest if possible | ISO: 800 (the native limit in S-Log3)
- AF drive speed: Normal
- AF Track Sensitivity: Responsive
- Audio Recording: On
- Audio Level Display: On
- Grid Line: Rule of 3rds Grid

What is BT.2020?

Rec. 2020 or BT.2020, defines various aspects of ultra-high-definition television (UHDTV) with standard dynamic range (SDR) and wide color gamut (WCG), including picture resolutions, frame rates with progressive scan, bit depths, color primaries, RGB and luma-chroma color representations, chroma subsampling, and an optoelectronic transfer function. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rec._2020

What is HLG?

HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) for instant HDR workflow. The HLG picture profile supports instantaneous HDR workflow. Movies recorded in HLG picture mode will appear true-to-life with minimized black-crush or blown highlights that can deteriorate gradation and details, without color grading.

ONE Complaint

No flip screen. Vloggers need that.

Sony a7iii Operating Manual

Sony A7iii Operating Manual 2019 Download

Resource:

https://www.digitalrev.com/article/sony-a7ii-v-sony-a7iii-should-you-upgrade
https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/sony-alpha-a7-iii-vs-a7r-iii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSesP08LCcs
Maarten Heilbron’s Sony A7 III Best Video Settings https://youtu.be/9Rh7IDnroPk

To be continued…

Best Video Lenses | Best Video Settings