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Sony

Alpha 7S III

12MP low-light video specialist with 4K 120p, 16-bit RAW HDMI, and excellent autofocus.

$3,499

Released Sep 2020

vs

Sony

FX3

Compact full-frame cinema line camera with S-Cinetone and pro video ergonomics.

$3,899

Released Feb 2021

FX3 is 6 months newer.

Wins

3categories

Alpha 7S III

Video & HybridPortrait

Wins

0categories

FX3

Video & HybridPortrait

12 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 7S III wins 3 categories·FX3 wins 0 categories
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 627)
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher Battery life (CIPA) (600 shots vs 580 shots)
  • AAlpha 7S III has lower Weight (699 g vs 715 g)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 7S IIIFX3
Resolution12.1 MP12.1 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max102,400102,400
Burst10 fps10 fps
4K120 fps120 fps
IBIS5.5-stop5.5-stop
Weight699 g715 g
Battery600 shots580 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Alpha 7S III

129 × 97 × 81 mm

699 g (1.54 lb / 24.66 oz)

FX3

130 × 78 × 85 mm

715 g (1.58 lb / 25.22 oz)

Alpha 7S III is 1mm narrower and 4mm thinner than FX3 but it is also 19mm taller.

Alpha 7S III is 16 g lighter than FX3.

Depth (front-to-back): 81mm Alpha 7S III · 85mm FX3

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 7S III

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

FX3

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 7S III

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

FX3

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseAlpha 7S IIIFX3
Portrait
6.5Good
6.5Good
Sports & Action
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Video & Hybrid
8.0Excellent
8.0Excellent
Landscape
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Travel
6.5Good✓ wins
6.0Good
Wildlife
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Vlogging
5.5Fair
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7S III

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 128.9, 96.9, 80.8

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 627 — higher is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    600 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    699 g vs 715 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

FX3

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 129.7, 77.8, 84.5

Both cameras share

  • ResolutionBoth 12.1 MP
  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 80
  • ISO max (native)Both 102,400
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Alpha 7S III

Pros

  • Best-in-class low light
  • 4K 120p
  • Full-size HDMI
  • Strong IBIS

Cons

  • 12MP stills limit
  • Older generation now
  • No 8K

FX3

Pros

  • Cinema form factor
  • S-Log3 / S-Cinetone
  • Compact for gimbals
  • Full-frame sensor

Cons

  • No EVF
  • Still photo ergonomics limited
  • Single card slot

Full specifications

= category winner

Alpha 7S III
FX3
Resolution
12.1 MP
12.1 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Sensor size
35.6 × 23.8 mm
35.6 × 23.8 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 7S III
FX3
AF system
Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection / contrast-detection)
Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection / contrast-detection)
AF points / zones
759+21%
627
AF frame coverage
94 %
94 %
AF low-light limit
-6 EV
-6 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
Human, Animal
Human, Animal
Alpha 7S III
FX3
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps
10 fps
Burst (electronic)
10 fps
10 fps
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
No
RAW buffer depth
120 frames
120 frames
Alpha 7S III
FX3
Max resolution
4K UHD
4K UHD / DCI 4K
4K max frame rate
120 fps
120 fps
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps
600 Mbps
Internal RAW video
Yes
Yes
Log profile
S-Log3 / HLG / S-Cinetone
S-Log3 / HLG / S-Cinetone
Codecs
XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I, H.265, H.264
XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I, H.265, H.264
Alpha 7S III
FX3
Weight
699 g−16 g less
715 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8 mm
129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for travel, Alpha 7S III or FX3?

Alpha 7S III scores 6.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for FX3 — 699g — manageable for travel.

What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 7S III and FX3?

Both cameras share the same 12.1 MP resolution.

Do the Alpha 7S III and FX3 have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 7S III has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while fX3 has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 7S III or the FX3?

Alpha 7S III reaches 10 fps electronic. FX3 reaches 10 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Alpha 7S III and FX3?

Alpha 7S III weighs 699 g and FX3 weighs 715 g, so the Alpha 7S III is 16 g lighter.

Do the Alpha 7S III and FX3 record 4K video?

Alpha 7S III: 4K up to 120p. FX3: 4K up to 120p.

Are the Alpha 7S III and FX3 weather sealed?

Alpha 7S III: Yes. FX3: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 600 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 7S III and 580 shots for the FX3, giving the Alpha 7S III the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 7S III launched at $3,499 and FX3 at $3,899. The Alpha 7S III is $400 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.