Should I Buy a Sony a7 III in 2025?
Let’s take a trip back to the Spring of 2018. Drake dominated the Billboard Hot 100, skinny jeans were dying out, and Sony had launched the much-anticipated successor to the a7—the Sony a7 III. In 2018, the a7 III was easily the best bang for your buck in the full-frame mirrorless camera market, but is it still a camera worth buying in 2025? You might be surprised by this take.Sony a7 III Tech Specs – a Brief RefresherFor more, you can check them out in our full review:Image SensorSensor Type:35mm full frameNumber of Pixels (Effective):24.2 megapixelsFocusFocus Points:693 phase-detection AF, 425 contrast-detection AFFocus Sensor:Exmor R CMOS SensorViewfinderViewfinder Type:1.3cm XGA OLEDNumber of Dots:2,359,296 dotsShutterShutter Speed:Stills: 1/8000 to 30 sec, BulbFlash Sync Speed:1/250 sec.The Big Picture: Using the Sony a7 III for Work Seven Years LaterIf I’m being totally honest, I should’ve upgraded this body a long time ago. Not because it doesn’t deliver on jobs – no, as an event photographer covering corporate events and religious events, the Sony a7III has been a workhorse of a camera for the specific type of work I do. The images are often delivered on-site, and I am rarely asked to retouch the final files. Most of the event coordinators I work with would not know what to do with a “RAW file” and almost never ask (there was this one time, but that’s a different post altogether).Sony a7III Product ImageIn our review of the Sony a7 III we said,I genuinely think the Sony A7 III is a fantastic camera. Sony describes it as their “basic” option. For that, I understand the mentality. But for the professional photographer, I think the Sony A7 III has no real place in your bag.I don’t entirely disagree; if you’ve been working and living off of your photography equipment, the Sony a7 III would be a stretch if your work involves working out in the elements or in otherwise uncontrolled environments. For those types of jobs, you are better served with a Sony a7R III, Sony a9 iii, or similar, but if you’re seriously considering an a7 III in 2025, there are a few inferences I can make; let’s jump right into those now.Who Buys a Sony a7 III in 2025?Image taken with Sony a7III at an event in 2024 (paid gig).The photographer looking into a Sony a7 III in 2025 will fall into one of two categories: a hobbyist interested in purchasing their first full-frame camera. Congrats! You’ll love it here. The hobbyist will likely take out their camera and two or maybe three lenses for special events, vacations, and the occasional photo walk. If you fall into this category, I strongly recommend purchasing a Sony a7 III (preferably used). The money you save on the camera body can be used on better lenses – we even made it easy to pick the best one for you in this post.If I’m being totally honest, I should’ve upgraded this body a long time ago.The second potential photographer looking to buy a Sony a7 III is starting a business. You’re bootstrapping this career of yours; maybe you’re still working a 9-to-5 (no shame in this AT ALL), and you need a reliable camera that sports a full-frame sensor that can reliably autofocus in various conditions. The Sony a7 III’s ability to focus in just about any piss poor lighting condition is the main reason why I plan to use it until it kills over. In our review, we said:During my testing with the Sony A7 III, I found the autofocus to be positively fantastic. The Sony A7 III, along with the Sony 55mm f1.8, were able to focus in near darkness. This is great for photographers who want to capture moments with no autofocus assist lamp coming on because the Sony A7 III did just that.You’re also probably on the fence between something like the Sony a7 III and the Sony a7C II – those megapixels probably seem tempting in the a7C II. As a working pro, you will find yourself in need of a good-to-great EVF in your mirrorless camera, and if you are swayed by the 33-megapixels in the a7C II versus the 24-megapixels in the a7 III, you’ll be wishing you picked up the latter instead. I think of something like the a7C II as a fun camera, we’re here to work – pick up the a7III.Good, not PerfectImage taken with the Sony a7III at an event in 2024 (paid gig). I don’t want to color your perception here; if you’re considering the Sony a7 III in 2025 for professional work, be warned – you’re buying a nearly 10-year-old camera. It won’t be the fastest-focusing camera you can buy. You’ll also be sacrificing the resolution of new cameras specifically geared for professionals – like that Sony a7R III. Also, the battery life of the Sony a7III was great when compared to the Sony a7II but lags behind newer models; if you’re going down this path, be ready to shell out some cash for extra batteries (I keep 3 spares in my bag on shoot days).Lastly, be honest with yourself. Are you picking up this camera for fun or a hobby, or are you going to seriously try to build a business around it? If it’s the latter, recognize that you will be looking to upgrade this camera body in less than 5 years. Is this an expense you can afford, or should you consider a slightly more expensive camera that will last you a few more years? I originally purchased my Sony a7 III in 2019 after I traded in my Samsung NX1 and all my lenses; if I had to start all over today, I’d probably look into something more suited for professional work, even if I couldn’t get as many lenses to start. After all, you can always rent what you need for a job.Still want one? Check this camera out on Amazon.
