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Cameras

Review Update: Sony a9 III Brings New Features for Still Photographers

Alberto Lima
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Last updated on 12/16/2025
12/22/2025
6 Mins read
A Sony Alpha camera with a large lens rests on a magazine featuring a partial face and doll.
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In late October 2025, Sony released multiple firmware updates for various cameras, including the Sony a9 III. With this new update came an expected change to how the camera utilizes its connectivity features – WPA and WEP functionality are no longer supported – as well as changes to the autofocusing capabilities. Among those changes were the inclusion of Real-Time Recognition AF+ and auto Recognition Target. At ThePhoblographer, our reviews are living documents, and with this major update, we felt it was time to take another look at the Sony a9 III.

Sony a 9III Version 4.0 Photography Highlights

Sony’s a9III is Sony’s true workhorse camera. The first-ever full-frame global shutter camera was designed for photojournalists, sports, and wildlife photographers, and the company continues to extract even more power from its pro camera. Below are some of the biggest changes in firmware version 4.0 for still photographers:

  • Adds support for Real-time Recognition AF+ with improved subject detection and tracking capabilities
  • Allows you to set the Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals
  • Adds support for the Preset Focus function with lenses that do not have power zoom, including Sony’s manual zoom E-mount lenses
  • Adds FL2 (Film 2) and FL3 (Film 3) to the Creative Look options
  • Allows you to select whether to change the Shooting Mode, Drive Mode, and Focus Mode using the dial or through the menu
  • Improves the metering accuracy when using bounce flash

We tested the Sony a9 III with the Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, Sony FE 50-150mm f2 GM, all of which were on loan from LensRentals.com. We also tested the camera with a Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD, which we own.

Autofocusing Improvements: Real-time Recognition AF+ and Auto Recognition Target

Camera screen showing focus subject recognition options: Auto, Human, Animal/Bird, Animal, Bird, and Insect.
The Sony a9 III’s latest firmware update added automatic Real-time Subject Recognition.

For firmware version 4.0, we took the Sony a9 III birding, on the streets of Brooklyn, and was used for a holiday church event (family portraits). We wanted to see how the camera performed in various scenarios and lighting conditions – including situations where we’d be controlling the light. Our first outing with the a9 III EIC, Chris Gampat, and I took the camera to a local wildlife preserve to capture birds in flight. Despite encountering some issues with our Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, the camera was more than capable of keeping up with everything from Canadian Geese to local Warblers (those little birds are quick). Once the autofocusing system locked into its subject, it remained fixed throughout – tracking birds in the sky, people moving across a street, or a plane in flight.

Speaking of which, one of the new updates introduces auto-subject recognition, which can be fine-tuned to recognize people, cats/dogs, birds, vehicles, planes, and insects. Depending on how you’re using the a9 III, you could let the camera decide what you’re shooting (the camera will always prioritize humans first, then animals). Combined with Real-Time Subject tracking, the camera will help ensure that your keeper rate stays high and the stress of the job remains low.

Close-up of the Sony a9 III's screen with the message' Registered focus area. '
Focus Pre-Register on the Sony a9 III brings focus distance lock to non-powered zoom lenses, such as the FE 50-150mm F2 GM.

Another focus-related feature is the addition of a Preset Focus function for non-powered lenses. While some lenses, like the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II, have the ability to preset focus ranges, many other lenses do not. The ability to bring Preset Focus to a lens like the FE 50-150mm f2 GM was extremely helpful for a kind of pseudo-zone focusing style of shooting. When you know where the action will be, shaving the fractions of a second to lock focus makes action sports far easier to shoot.

Two New Creative Looks: Film 2 and Film 3

One of my gripes with my Sony a7 III (yes, I am aware this is not even a close comparison, but let me cook) is that while the camera and the images it produces are technically good, artistically, they’ve always felt a little boring. For most of my client work, that’s not really an issue; I’m typically being paid to document an event, not create a work of art. However, when asked to take family portraits for an entire church, I want to spend the least amount of time on my editing software. For that reason, I’m pleased to see that Sony is embracing new creative styles that don’t attempt to clinically imitate or recreate reality but instead lean into something more human and nostalgic. Creative Looks Film 2 and Film 3 aren’t exactly perfect, but with a little fine-tuning, they can provide a very pleasing look, even with a little “fade,” right out of the camera. For the church shoot, I set the camera to Film 3, adjusted the white balance to add a touch of warmth, and let the camera do its job.

A hand holds a camera in front of a decorated Christmas tree; settings are visible on the screen.
Sony a9 III users will get the option of two new Creative Looks: Film 2 and Film 3.

In the end, I accomplished what I had hoped – a simple, one-light workflow that cut down my post-processing time and delivered images within a couple of days. This was a pro bono gig, and for these, I want to focus on helping my client get images they love without spending too much extra time on them. While I wouldn’t call the new color profile for JPEGs “filmic” in any sense, they do add character that the standard color profiles lack. I’m really happy to see Sony embracing this and user-created profiles more in their latest cameras.

Below are some unedited sample images:

A flock of geese stands on a frozen lake with city buildings visible in the distant background.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
Four geese flying in formation against a cloudy sky, with an orange circular logo in the bottom right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
Three geese flying in a clear blue sky, with an orange circular logo in the bottom right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A seagull soars in a clear blue sky, with an orange circular logo in the bottom right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A lone seagull flies against a clear sky; an orange circular logo is in the bottom right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A lone bird flies across a cloudy sky, with tree branches and an orange logo in the lower right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A bird flying in a cloudy sky with an orange circular logo in the lower right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
Three geese flying in a dark, cloudy sky with an orange logo in the lower right corner.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
Christmas tree with red and green ornaments and a chef bear figurine ornament hanging on a branch.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
Christmas tree with a chef ornament, red and green bauble, and tinsel decorations.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A decorated Christmas tree with ornaments, including a Santa chef and red, green, and plaid baubles.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.
A man in a black puffer jacket makes a hand gesture, standing indoors with a bright light behind him.
Unedited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III.

The following images were edited in Capture One:

Six people pose together, smiling, in front of a festive holiday backdrop with greenery and ornaments.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III (Cropped JPEG).
Six people pose and smile for a group photo in front of a festive backdrop with holiday greenery.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III (RAW imaged Cropped)
Smiling woman in a brown dress poses indoors beside a poinsettia plant against a white backdrop.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III (Cropped JPEG).
A man in a black sweater sits on a stool, hands together, with a neutral expression and a white backdrop.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III (Cropped JPEG).
A man in a black sweater and white shirt sits on a chair, posing against a white backdrop with red flowers.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III (Cropped JPEG).
Three Canada geese fly in a cloudy sky; an orange circular logo is in the bottom right corner.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III
Three geese fly in formation against a blue sky; an orange circular logo is in the bottom right corner.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III
Close-up of a decorated Christmas tree with red and striped ornaments and green pine branches.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III
Man in a puffer jacket making a peace sign indoors, with a light and furniture in the background.
Edited sample image taken with the Sony a9 III

The Sony a9 III in 2026

When we first reviewed the a9III, we said,

By far, the Sony a9 III is the single best camera that Sony has made thus far. Nearly every issue that I’ve had with the company’s cameras over the years has been resolved in some way or another.

Nearly two years since that initial review, I’m glad to see that Sony continues to pour into its truly professional camera body. The Sony a9III may be overkill for simple events and portraits, but for news gathering, sports, and wildlife photography, there are few competitors that can deliver both the raw power of a camera like this and all the necessary credentials required by newsrooms. The Sony a9III continues to deliver for the working pro and is easily the best FE-mount camera you can buy today.

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