SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Only one of many you could choose.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

These are all great, revolutionary features that will be adopted eventually by all leading manufacturers...Sony is a groundbreaker and produces great products. BUT, there are now 5.25 BILLION cellphone users in the world and that number has increased 98% since 2016... We won't even go into sales comparisons as any ignorant marketing guru can tell you where the market and corporate profits are going to come from in the future and it ain't going to be FF. Future discoveries in miniaturization and computational AI will be the demise of the Big guys except for specialized situations. Just look at this site here, as more and more folks are admitting that maybe phone cams are almost good enough right NOW. Way too many Fan Boys playing the identity game... WHY should anyone begrudge a company making inroads in any area ? These will all sift down to all users and brands eventually.

gwilliams6

You do know that Sony produces the vast majority of smartphone image sensors and smartphones cameras used in most smartphones including all Apple iPhones.

Sony makes huge profits from its imaging and semiconductor divisions for its image sensors made for everything from smartphones, compact cameras, bridge cameras, APS-C, fullframe, medium format (all for a wide host of brands); plus medical and industrial cameras, including global shutters for industrial cameras and cinema cameras. And then add in what it makes from all its cameras .

And who do you think has developed most of those AI programs that those smartphones rely upon? Sony that is who. !! Sony uses its smartphone image sensors, smartphone cameras, smartphone AI software as the Beta test beds for the AI it is now incorporating into its latest larger cameras. The gap between the AI in smartphones and the AI in larger cameras is getting closer, not getting wider, just a fact.

In 2022 Sony revenues from its imaging division alone was over $8.11 Billion USD. In the same year Canon Imaging made $5.11 Billion USD in revenues; FujiFilm Imaging made $1.7 Billion USD in revenue; Nikon Imaging made $1.16 billion USD in revenue.

Fyi, total Sony Corporation revenues from all its companies in 2022 was $844 Billion USD, yes $844 Billion USD

None of these Imaging companies is going away anytime soon, even with all the smartphone sales, which some of them hugely profit from.

Cheers

Canisdirus

See a psychiatrist...seriously.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Gerald, I think it is GREAT that Sony will make a Trillion dollars and lead us all down the photo road.... I don't begrudge Sony a bit as prob. one of my best clicks came from MY OWN SONY.... I do Sony, Canon,Olympus and Sigma Merrill and really don't care what name is on the body as they all do different things well. My point was that the future markets are going to be for the phone cams irregardless of all the hype and new technology... You are not going to beat the masses and massive numbers... There will always be folks like our departed comrade Bob carrying a bunch of sticks and a suitcase around in the woods BUT the majority of the BILLIONS will be lugging a little phone cam in their pocket.

gwilliams6

Even with billions using smartphones, dont write off the future for larger cameras. Sure I carry a smartphone but there are things it will NEVER be able to do that larger cameras can do, like multiple flash setups for professional shoots. Like global shutter for no possible rolling shutter in stills and video, and flash sync at any speed, like having hundreds of interchangeable lens choices, like having 4-way articulating screens, and so much more. Like being able to do manual focus pulls in video. Like having 61mp and 100+ megapixel fullframe and medium format sensors for the ultimate in resolution and detail for best IQ and cropping. Let us know when you see smartphones used for all the shots by top sports shooters at major league pro sports and the Olympics . LOL

Smartphone have limitations that even the best AI cant overcome. Working Pros getting paid for client work are NOT turning to smartphones more than other cameras, even if you see Apple showing you glowing commercials with some pros using their smartphones . Just a fact.

Maybe for hobbyists, smartphones can do all you will ever need, but not for working professionals, sorry MrBob.

Cheers and best for you.

Bill_de Loc: US

I'm sure the cell phone has more people taking pictures than any of todays cameras. Many of these folks would not be taking photos if it wasn't for the phone. On the other hand, there are most likely some 'photographers' who got the bug because of their time with a phone in hand.

At the end of the day folks will use what makes them happy. Why concern yourself with what others are doing. They don't care what you do.

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gwilliams6

New from Jared Polin:
Sony a9 III MAJOR FEATURES Review: Does it Live Up to the HYPE?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sATvBqazbvM&t=153s

Cheers

Grahame Loc: Fiji

That review really shows what it's all about, best I've seen so far.

gwilliams6

Matt Johnson:
The Sony a9 iii Global Shutter Sensor is REVOLUTIONARY For Filmmakers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rug7VL8QpA

Cheers

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

I agree COMPLETLY, but there is SO much Identity politics in photography that it puts traditional politics to shame... I will check back in 10 years if the creek don't rise, and see WHAT folks are using and WHAT percentage of the BILLIONS of sales in mirrorless are going to be in the larger formats... I understand the PROs are in their own world and their outlook is a whole lot diff. than the normal enthusiast. Sometimes I wish the drum beats would just cease for a while...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Over and over again you reference professionals who photograph sports. They may be your world, but they are not THE world.

One of the Pentax cameras - perhaps it is the entry-tier K-70 - uses a sensor which is said to have been used in Sony MILCs and be able ‘to focus’ - but Pentax doesn’t use that capability, even in their LiveView. Nikon and others may eventually use sensor chips that come from the A9iii - but we don’t know that they will use a ‘global shutter’. We don’t know what the long-term effects of this development will be. It is hype at this moment. A pro saying ‘hype’ things is still saying hype. Perhaps Sony will gain sales - both body and lens - but it is entirely too soon to reach conclusions. Much of ‘the world’ doesn’t deal with LED lighting or rolling shutter effects. Punct. [unwatch]

Bill_de Loc: US

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rbmcdill Loc: St. Louis, MO

Since this camera won't be available until late February or early March, and add the new 300 mm lens, I bet you see a lot of them showing up in Paris for the Olympics. Getting one in March gives the sports photographers a chance to iron out any issues and to really understand the advantages and disadvantages of this camera. The 250 ISO, I think that's the number, may take some getting used to when they are outside.

gwilliams6

Relax folks, this is more about the revolution coming to fullframe mirrorless cameras, a global shutter. It would be the same huge news if it came from Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax, Nikon, Leica, Fuji, or Canon. It is not a brand war, but a new technological revolution.

There will still be non-global shutter cameras made at all budget levels for hobbyists and pros, and still there will be DSLRs to buy, but from this day forward this global shutter tech is here to stay forever, and this tech will find its way into other models from other makers, and we all will have new advanced-feature models to consider for our creative use, hobbyists to pros.

Its photographic history, embrace it for what it is, not what you might think it isn't, whether this new tech is for you or not. But I guess that is NOT the UHH way, ever. LOL, LOL

Cheers and best to you all.