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There are fantastic reasons why so many photojournalists moved to the Sony camera system. For starters, there’s a lot of great AI built into the cameras. Then, there’s also a plethora of lenses to select from. And over the years, the build quality has gotten a lot better. But which one do you choose? Well, we dove into our Reviews Index to pick the best Sony cameras for photojournalism. And we think you’ll wind up getting one of these.
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How We Chose the Best Sony Cameras for Photojournalism
- Our round ups include only products that we’ve done full reviews on. You’ll never see a product that we haven’t fully reviewed in a round up. We’re linking to each of our reviews as well.
- This round up of the best Sony cameras for photojournalism has only cameras that can deliver what a photojournalist needs.
- All of the best Sony cameras for photojournalism are weather resistant. Our torture tests are often some of the most renowned in the photo industry.
- For the most part, we’re recommending the Sony full-frame cameras. The axxxx series of cameras are pretty good for sure. And they’re very compact. But only a few Sony cameras take full advantage of all Sony offers.
- Photojournalism requires you to not edit your photos, while basic adjustments are allowed. These lenses will surely help you get everything you need.
- The product images and sample images in this round up of the best Sony cameras for photojournalism were all shot by our staff of photographers.
- Some of these cameras were used by the previous Sony World Photography Awards.
Sony a1
Pros
- Sony’s a1 shows that stacked sensors are the future
- Detail rich images with great dynamic range
- Excellent ergonomics (the best Sony camera to date)
- The a1 features the new touchscreen menu system
- Fantastic overall autofocus performance
- 30 frames per second with the electronic shutter with virtually no rolling shutter or banding issues
- 1/400th mechanical shutter speed with compatible TTL flashes and triggers
- Sony’s 9.44 million dot EVF is a work of art
- Excellent build quality
- Good battery life
- 8K video
- Excellent performance with CFexpress A cards
Cons
- It has the same old 1.44 million dot LCD
- The LCD is not fully articulating
- Bird AF is a work in progress
- Multi Shot mode is inconsistent
- Autofocus suffers a little in very low light situations
- It’s $6,499
How’s the Autofocus?
In our review, we state:
“Sony’s new flagship camera has stellar autofocus for the most part. In general use, the a1 performs incredibly well. Whether you’re shooting single point, wide, zone, or wide tracking, in great to mediocre light, the a1 delivers the goods. When tracking subjects, the autofocus box locks on and sticks like glue. Not only is the autofocus accurate, but it’s also rapid; until you get to low-light situations.”
Sony a7 IV
Pros
- Face detection and tracking
- Animal face detection and tracking
- Bird face and eye detection
- Metering
- Updated OLED screen and menu
- Comfortable grip
- Suitable for a variety of applications
- Weather-sealed and sensor dust issue is improved
- Fast autofocus
- Impressive Dynamic Range
- Sharp – almost too sharp for some womens’ portraits
- In-camera skin softening to combat incredibly sharp skin pores
Cons
- High ISO performance could be better
- Color noise in out-of-focus areas at lower ISOs
- Shutter freezes and the camera becomes unresponsive at times when shooting bracketed
- High burst mode currently only works if shooting compressed RAW
How’s the Autofocus?
In our review, we state:
“The addition of real-time eye autofocus for humans, birds, and animals is wonderful and a lot of fun to use. I tested it out on my ferocious feline while following him around our complex. Both AF-C and AF-Auto modes were successful in getting many usable frames as he frolicked and played. The tracking is impressive, even when the eye is no longer visible. Tracking is much more accurate once the subject turns, so their eyes are back in the scene. Wedding photographers will appreciate these enhancements.”
Sony a7s III
Pros
- Nice feel in the hand
- Good build quality
- Weather sealing
- Fantastic autofocus
- The 9.44 million dot EVF is simply gorgeous
- A new touch menu system! Hallelujah!
- Despite only having a 12MP sensor, the image quality is great
- Sony finally added a tilty, flippy screen
- Decent battery life when being used for stills
- Not a bad price ($3,498)
Cons
- The LCD is on the small side, and it hinders the new menu system
- The EVF can lag in low light situations, even when on its highest refresh rate settings
- Colors take on rather strange tones at very high ISOs
How’s the Autofocus?
In our review, we state:
“…the autofocus system is excellent. If you need to capture fast-moving subjects, you will have no issues with the Sony a7s III. My usual test for tracking involves my dogs. They are crazy, erratic, and lots of fun when playing fetch. As you can see below, the Sony a7s III has no issues tracking my dog Austin as he was coming towards me.”
The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear that we’ve fully reviewed. If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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