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You are here: Home / Guide / How to Set Up and Use the Sony A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV, A9

How to Set Up and Use the Sony A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV, A9

Last updated: May 4, 2020 Go to Comments

The Sony A7 III has become one of the most popular full frame cameras on the digital market, if not one of the most popular models in the history of the mirrorless segment. But other products such as the A7R III, A7R IV and A9 have also made their contribution to the E-mount’s success, including older cameras such as the mark II generation.

If you’ve just got yourself one of these cameras, or are seriously thinking about buying one, you may be wondering how to set it up properly.

Because we’ve tested these products numerous times and have owned several of them, we decided to consolidate everything we’ve learned into a large collection of articles. All the tutorials are summarised in this post to facilitate navigation.

I hope you find it useful and, if you still have some questions, there is a comment section available at the bottom of each article.

Note: all the articles include information about older models (A7 I and A7 II series). Some guides are not yet available, but we’re working hard to finish them as soon as possible.


Ethics statement: we own the A7 III and A7R III, we previously owned the A7R II, and we rented the A9, the A7R IV and others to make our comparisons. We were not asked to write anything about this product, nor were we provided with any sort of compensation. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!


Check price of the Sony A7 III on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check the price of the Sony A7R III on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7R IV on
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A9 on
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7 II on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7R II on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Second-hand Sony gear on
MPB US | MPB UK


Sony A7 III – Tips & Tricks and Questions Answered

If you want a good overview of what the camera is capable of, head over to our FAQ article. There, we answer the most popular questions about the Sony A7 III, from the most basic to the most interesting.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Menu and Button Set-up Guide

Also valid for the A7R IV

The Sony menu system has never been the most straightforward to navigate. Some settings are hidden and the order of things is not always clear. Fortunately, the interface has improved over the years and the cameras offer a lot of customisation. The latter is the key to making the A7 III and company easier to use: by properly setting up the menu, customising button and dials and using the custom settings mode, you’ll get the best experience from your camera.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Memory Card Set-up

Also valid for the A7R IV

The A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV and A9 have two slots for the memory card. They use the SD (Secure Digital) type and like many other cameras that have a dual slot, they give you different options such as backing up images, separating still and video files and more. At the link below you’ll find all you need to know about the Sony dual card slot set-up.

The Best SD Cards for the Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9

Also valid for the A7R IV

Over the years, we've used many different memory cards and have come to trust a few brands over others. We've also learned how to choose the right card and what the various specifications really mean for stills and video use.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Viewfinder and Display Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

These cameras have a rear LCD screen and a built-in EVF. There are many settings designed for the two monitors. You can display more or less information, adjust brightness or colour temperature and increase the quality. We cover the touchpad settings, external monitor setup and many other things.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Best Photography Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

There are numerous settings related to image quality and the various shooting modes. If this is your first camera, you might be confused about where to start and wonder how to set it up properly. And if you are already accustomed to it, there might still be something you’ve missed. Let’s have a look at how to set up these Sony cameras for photography.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Landscape Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

Landscape photography is a favourite genre of many, and it certainly is one of mine. I love to get lost in nature, wait for the right light and capture powerful and vibrant moments. If you’re interested too and want to know what our recommended landscape settings are, head on over to the link below.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Low Light Photography Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

Low light situations can be challenging if you don’t have a tripod with you, or don’t have the luxury of using a fast aperture or a slow shutter speed. Fortunately, Sony sensors perform well at high ISOs, and there is a lot you can do. See how to push your A7 III to the limit!

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Astrophotography Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

Astrophotography is a fascinating landscape genre that involves a bit of research, patience, not a lot of sleep and the right settings to capture great shots. If you want to experiment with this genre, here are the Sony A7 III astro settings we recommend.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Autofocus Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

The latest A7 cameras have an excellent autofocus system and can be used in a variety of situations with excellent results. If you’re wondering what the best settings are, the article below will give you the answer you need.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Portrait Settings and Eye AF Setup

Also valid for the A7R IV

Taking portraits of people is a fascinating genre where you can learn a lot about light, composition and interacting with your subject. Your Sony A7 has some very interesting parameters to help you out, including the renowned Eye AF feature. Here is everything you need to know!

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Settings for Sports

Also valid for the A7R IV

The A7 III has good continuous shooting capabilities and a good buffer which makes it ideal for all sorts of action photography. Combined with the right autofocus settings, you’ll get great results for various sports. But the A7R III is not far behind, and what about the A9 and its stunning Silent Shooting performance? Find out more by reading our dedicated article!

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Settings for Wildlife and Birds

Also valid for the A7R IV

In the last four years, I’ve incorporated BIF autofocus tests into all the camera reviews I've done. I’ve also had the opportunity to take various wildlife images and learn interesting things about the genre. Now that we are starting to see more telephoto lenses for the E-Mount system, the wildlife genre is becoming a very interesting one for Sony users.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Video Settings Explained

Also valid for the A7R IV

The A7 series is as capable for still photography as it is for video. This, along with its many cinematic functions, is why it is a popular tool amongst filmmakers. Like most Sony mirrorless cameras, it is packed with a lot of advanced settings but if you aren’t accustomed to them, you might find them rather confusing at first. In this article, we cover everything from the Picture Profiles and __ to the audio settings and the slow motion set-up process.

Sony A7 III, A7S II, A7R IV Picture Profiles for Video

If you're keen on making the most out of your Sony A7 camera when recording movies, you need to know what the Picture Profiles are and how to use them. These advanced settings allow you to control the quality of your image with far more precision than the Creative Styles. This is also where you'll find the S-Log and HLG gamma curves. In this article, we analyse all the settings to show you what they do and how to take advantage of them.

Sony A7 III, A7R III, A9 Slow Motion Settings

Also valid for the A7R IV

The most recent Sony E-mount cameras come with dedicated settings to produce slow motion video in Full HD. There are two methods you can use to achieve up to a 5x slow effect. In this article, we explain where these settings are and how to use them.


Coming Soon

  • How to Remotely Control your Sony Camera
  • And more!

Check price of the Sony A7 III on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check the price of the Sony A7R III on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7R IV on
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A9 on
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7 II on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Check price of the Sony A7R II on:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay

Second-hand Sony gear on
MPB US | MPB UK


Sony Alpha Mirrorless Cameras Resources on Mirrorless Comparison

Having owned the A7 III and the A7R III for more than a year now, we had the chance to test it in all sorts of conditions, and compare it against many of its mirrorless competitors. Below you’ll find other interesting reads about Sony full frame cameras.

Real World Comparisons

  • Sony A7 III vs A7R III
  • Sony A7R III vs A7R IV
  • Sony A7R II vs A7R III
  • Sony A7R III vs A9
  • Sony A7 III vs Nikon Z6
  • Sony A7R III vs Nikon Z7
  • Sony A7R III vs Fujifilm GFX 50s
  • Sony A7R III vs Panasonic S1R
  • Sony A7 III vs Canon EOS R
  • Sony A7 III vs Fujifilm X-T3
  • Sony A7 II vs Canon EOS RP

Sample Photos

  • Sony A7 III sample images
  • Sony A7R III sample images
  • Sony A7R IV sample images
  • Sony A7 II sample images
  • Sony A7R II sample images
  • Sony A7S sample images

Comparison previews

  • Sony A7 III vs A6600
  • Sony A9 vs A9 II
  • Sony A7 II vs A7 III
  • Sony A7 III vs A9

In-Depth content

  • Sony Eye AF for Animals
  • Electronic shutter evolution (Sony A9)

Published December 19, 2019 By Mathieu Filed Under: Guide

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