We haven’t taken a serious look at the Sony a7III since —that’s a lifetime in terms of technology in general and cameras in particular. Since then, a lot has happened: a global pandemic, new entries into the a7 series, and several firmware updates to the Sony a7III. After all that’s happened, let’s take another look at what the Sony a7III offers photographers.
Sony a7III and Firmware Version 4.02
Since our latest update, Sony has added several updates to the Sony a7III, offering everything from improved stability to Animal EyeAF to FTP compatibility. These updates have not only kept the a7III chugging along, but they’ve also given me very little reason to upgrade for my event work.
This firmware came out in early 2025, and we’re updating our review now.
Connectivity Updates
One of the first notable updates to the workflow is an upgrade to the camera’s WiFi security. This upgrade removes WPA and WEP connectivity and replaces it with the more secure WPA2 standard. If you rely on local, wireless backups, the option to use the more secure and modern standard will allow more seamless backups without compromising your network’s security.
In the same vein, the most recent firmware update has given Sony a7 III owners the ability to transfer via FTP protocol. This is a big update if you’re using the camera for professional sports or on behalf of a news organization. Sony’s trend lately is to ensure that all of its modern cameras have as many professional features as the hardware allows.
Sony a7III and Animal AF
Animal AF is the oldest of the updates in this review, but it is still significant. When the Sony a7III was first released, its (human) EyeAF was unmatched, but shortly after, competitors began incorporating new subject detection advances to their autofocusing algorithms. It’s worth noting that Sony has gone against recent manufacturer trends of bringing a feature from a newer camera body down as a firmware update. Instead of forcing users to switch camera bodies for one feature, Sony did allow their customers an opportunity to get prolonged life out of their a7III purchase.
In terms of actual use, we found that the Animal subject detection worked best in brighter scenes and when the animal subject (limited to cats and dogs) was easily discernible from its surroundings. While testing this feature, I found that while this execution of Animal Subject Detection isn’t nearly as good as newer Sony cameras, it was more than good enough for hobbyists or pet portraits in controlled environments.
Below are some recent edited images made with the Sony a7III (some previously published here):
The following are unedited photos using the Sony a7III:
Chugging Along
In the nearly 8 years since its launch, the Sony a7III continues to be a camera that keeps on giving to photographers and Sony alike. For photographers, the Sony a7III remains a solid entry-level (in the professional/resume sense) camera. It may not be the best at any one kind of photography, but if you’re a new pro that needs a stable platform to launch a career, there are few options available that offer the mix of reliability, budget flexibility, even when purchased brand new. Aside from the vast lens ecosystem Sony has built over the years, the Sony a7III makes even more sense when you consider the very many third-party lens options that are as good, if not better, than what Sony makes for the system. And that’s why the Sony a7III continues to chug along.
