• 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • APS-C 361.2mm2
  • 25.7 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1,600,000
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A9
  • Pentax K-3 III
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Pentax K-3 II
K-3 II vs K-3 III
Successor: Sony A9 II
A9 vs A9 II
 
General
Model Number: A9 K-3 III
Alternate Model Number(s): ILCE-9 K-3 Mark III
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: Yes Yes
Retail Price: $4499.00 $1999.95
Street Price: $2,997.00 $1,846.95
Date Available: 2017-04-15 2021-04-06
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 23.7 oz (673 g)
includes batteries
28.9 oz (820 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in.
(127 x 96 x 63 mm)
5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in.
(135 x 104 x 74 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 24.2 25.7
Sensor Format: 35mm APS-C
Sensor size: 847.28mm2 (35.60mm x 23.80mm) 361.15mm2 (23.30mm x 15.50mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.93 microns 3.76 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Optional
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: Yes No
DxO Sensor Score: 92  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 24.9  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.3  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 3,517  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
3936 x 2624 (10.3 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
3936 x 2216 (8.7 MP, 16:9),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9)
6192 x 4128 (25.6 MP, 3:2),
4752 x 3168 (15.1 MP, 3:2),
3648 x 2432 (8.9 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.31), RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3 compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 20.0 12.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
1920x1080 (1p/​2p/​3p/​4p/​6p/​8p/​12p/​15p)
3840x2160 (30p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony E Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3/4)
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Fast Hybrid AF: Wide (693 points (phase-detection AF), 25 points (contrast-detection AF)) / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot / Lock-on AF (Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot) SAFOX 13 TTL phase-matching - 101 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF: 1.3 cm (0.5 type) 3,686K-dot Quad VGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.78x magnification, -4.0 to +3.0m-1 diopter, Approx. 23mm eyepoint from the eyepiece lens, 18.5mm from the eyepiece frame at -1m-1 (CIPA standard), STD 60fps / HI 120fps, eye sensor SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 1.05x mag., 20.5mm eyepoint, -4.0 to +1.0 diopter
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: 3,686,400 dots (1,228,800 pixels) n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.78x 1.05x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.78x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 1,440,000 dots (360,000 px) 1,620,000 dots (540,000 px)
Touchscreen: Yes Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 15.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: No Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 51200 1600000
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: AUTO, ISO 100 - 51200, expandable to ISO 50 - 204800 Auto, 100-1600000 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto (with Priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (4 settings), Flash, Underwater, Custom, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation) Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Shutter Speed Range: 1/32000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Standard/Large, Entire Screen Avg., Highlight TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 307K-pixel RGBIr sensor, Center-weighted, Spot, Highlight-weighted
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Picture Effect: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal / Cool / Warm / Green / Magenta), Soft High-key; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step) Scene Analyze Auto, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, Advanced HDR, Exposure bracket value adjustable, Automatic composition correction function; Pixel Shift Resolution (On/Off)
Self Timer: 2, 5, 10; 3/5 shots after 2/5/10 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No 24.0 megapixels
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed Sync, Wireless; Red-eye reduction: On/Off P-TTL; Modes available depends on external flash mounted
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: n/a n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Multi Interface Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: No No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-II UHS-II
Other Memory: Slot1:SD UHS-II; 2:MS/SD UHS-I  
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3 compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: Yes Yes
NFC: Yes No
Bluetooth: Yes Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: Yes Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed,Ethernet,Bluetooth,WiFi USB 3.0 Super Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional via IR, USB , Ethernet or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Optional Wired or IR
Connections (extended): Multi Micro-B USB 2.0 (with remote support), Type-D Micro HDMI, 100Base-T Ethernet, 3.5mm Microphone and Headphone Jacks, Sync Terminal USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C), Micro B,Micro (Type D) HMDI, External cable switch terminal (2.5mm), X-sync socket, 3.5mm stereo mic input, 3.5mm headphone jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): <0.3  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): <0.3  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 20.0 12.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 364 30
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 20.0  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 240  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 20.0  
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 225  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.22 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.097 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.020 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.2 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 1.0 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 650 shots  
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 480 shots 800 shots
Battery Life, Video: 105 minutes  
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary D-LI90
Usable Battery Types: NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: Yes No
Software
Included Software: Capture One Express (for Sony) free download Software CD-ROM includes Digital Camera Utility 5
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: