Changing the Game
As the VP over all of our filmed productions here at Richter, I’m uniquely lucky in that my job allows me to indulge in one of my biggest passions - being a huge camera nerd.
I keep up with all of the industry innovations and gear news, watch the release videos about the newest lenses and camera bodies, and rent the latest equipment when it makes sense for a particular shoot.
When it comes to my own camera gear, I use Sony products exclusively, so I tend to keep the closest watch on their new offerings. Which is why I was shocked (along with everyone else) when they released their newest camera body, the A9 III.
Why the shock? Because the A9 III is the first full-frame sensor camera to offer a global shutter. While most consumer camera sensors process an image line by line - meaning they read each line of pixels, from the top of the sensor to the bottom - a global shutter sensor captures the entire image - every single pixel - all at once.
What does that mean in practical terms? It means no more warped horizons when panning quickly, no more jelly-like videos when capturing fast action - just impeccable, true-to-life image quality.
For photographers and videographers - especially those in the fast-paced world of sports, wildlife, or run-and-gun documentary filmmaking - this is an absolute game-changer. Photographs from the A9 III will be perfectly frozen split-second moments, captured with unmatched precision. Video will feature crisp, natural motion, exactly as the human eye sees it.
To give you an example of how innovative this new sensor is, the A9 III will be able to capture images at 1/80,000 of a second. You read that right. The sensor on this camera is so fast you can not only freeze motion, you’re on the verge of being able to freeze light itself.
Every once in awhile there’s a sea change in the camera industry - the introduction of the DSLR, the breakthrough of seamless autofocus, the advent of mirrorless cameras. The A9 III’s global shutter is the next big paradigm shift. This camera will change the way we capture moments through video and photography - and any other camera manufacturer that doesn’t jump on this technology will quickly get left in the dust.
As a camera nerd - and a dedicated Sony fanboy - it’s never been a more exciting time. The next chapter of image capture has arrived, and I can’t wait to use these new tools in the pursuit of telling compelling stories.
